National Magazine Day: 5 reasons children should read magazines, according to experts

From inspiring reluctant readers to boosting curiosity, experts reveal why magazines deserve a place in your child's reading routine.

Published: October 14, 2026 at 10:20 AM

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If your child would rather do just about anything than pick up a book, the answer might be sitting on a magazine rack. From dinosaurs and Disney to football and fascinating facts, children's magazines could be an overlooked way to get little ones excited about reading.

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And with today (14 October) marking National Magazine Day 2026, there's never been a better excuse to introduce your child to one.

New research from the National Literacy Trust reveals that just 36.1% of children aged 8 to 18 enjoy reading in their free time. While that's a slight improvement on last year, it's a reminder that finding ways to make reading fun still matters.

The good news? Research suggests magazines can help, particularly for children who aren't naturally drawn to books. And it's not just about encouraging reading. From learning new things to enjoying a little downtime, here are five reasons experts believe magazines deserve a place in your child's reading routine.

5 reasons magazines are good for children, according to experts

1. They could turn reluctant readers into enthusiastic ones

If getting your child to read feels like a daily negotiation, a magazine could be worth trying.

Unlike a traditional book, magazines offer bite-sized articles, colourful pictures and plenty of opportunities to dip in and out, without the pressure of tackling a whole chapter.

A 2025 Open University study involving Year 5 pupils across 13 UK primary schools found that children given What on Earth! magazines alongside weekly reading sessions reported greater enjoyment of reading, including those who had previously been reluctant readers.

Kelly Ashley, Lecturer in Reading for Pleasure at the Open University, recommended using non-fiction magazines to "broaden reading into more diverse forms and foster reading for pleasure, especially for less engaged and reluctant readers."

Although the study focused on one magazine and included dedicated reading sessions, its findings suggest that sometimes children don't dislike reading, they just haven't found the right thing to read yet.

2. They encourage children to explore their favourite interests

Got a dinosaur-obsessed preschooler? A football-mad eight-year-old? Or a child who knows more about space than you do?

Magazines let children follow their interests, turning reading into something they actually want to do, rather than something they're told to do.

According to the National Literacy Trust's 2026 research, 48.7% of children and young people said reading helped them explore their interests.

Professor Robin Banerjee, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Sussex, also highlights the importance of offering children different types of reading material.

This is just one part of the ‘literacy menu’ that can foster a culture of reading amongst children, drawing them in with the content that they find most fun and engaging.

Professor Robin Banerjee, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Sussex

Try this: Let your child choose a magazine about something they already love, even if it's not what you'd normally pick for them.

3. They make reading a shared experience

Reading doesn't have to be a quiet, solitary activity. In fact, one of the lovely things about magazines is how easily they spark conversations.

The Open University researchers observed children spontaneously chatting about what they'd discovered during magazine-reading sessions, helping even less confident readers join in.

In their report, Kelly Ashley, Dr Sarah Critten and Professor Teresa Cremin recommend:

Offer texts in common to encourage children to share the experience, enhancing the view of reading as a social act.

Kelly Ashley, Dr Sarah Critten and Professor Teresa Cremin, Open University researchers

At home, that could mean reading a magazine together, laughing at a comic strip or asking your child to tell you the most surprising thing they've discovered.

4. They help children discover new words and fascinating facts

Whether it's learning what a volcano does or discovering an unusual animal, magazines can introduce children to subjects and vocabulary they might not encounter every day.

The National Literacy Trust found that 85.2% of children who enjoyed reading and read at least weekly felt it helped them learn new words or new things.

Although this finding relates to reading generally, magazines offer a particularly accessible mix of short articles, illustrations, quizzes and facts that children can explore at their own pace.

And because children can jump between topics, there's always another opportunity to discover something new.

5. They offer a chance to relax, away from screens

Between school, clubs, homework and screens, children can have surprisingly busy days.

A magazine offers a simple opportunity to slow down, flick through colourful pages and enjoy something purely for fun.

The National Literacy Trust's 2026 research found that 64.4% of children who enjoyed reading and read at least weekly said it helped them relax, while 55.6% said reading helped when they felt stressed or anxious.

These figures relate to reading in general, rather than magazines specifically, but a favourite magazine could be an appealing way to build a little screen-free downtime into your child's day.

And the best bit? There's no pressure to finish it in one sitting.

What is National Magazine Day 2026?

Taking place today, 14 October, National Magazine Day is part of the National Year of Reading 2026 and aims to help more children discover the joy of reading.

Led by Immediate, the publisher behind MadeForMums, alongside other leading publishers and charity partners, the campaign aims to distribute more than 60,000 magazines to children across the UK, particularly those with limited access to reading materials.

The initiative also includes magazine bundles for 20 schools, helping to bring more reading opportunities into classrooms.

As Sean Cornwell, CEO of Immediate, explains:

At the heart of this campaign is a simple aim: to help children discover the joy of reading. Magazines offer a uniquely engaging entry point for young readers, especially powerful for reluctant or less confident readers.

Sean Cornwell, CEO of Immediate

So, if your child isn't quite ready to fall in love with books, don't worry. A magazine about their favourite thing might just be the perfect place to start.

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Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.

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