Moms with girls 6-11 years old: American Girl or New Moon Girls magazine?

[Black Orchid]

Thoughts? Experiences? Pros, cons?

My 6 yo is an extremely good reader, she is reading at a 4th grade level. My mother purchased Chrissa, the American Girl for her birthday this year. My DD approached me about spending her money on a subscription to the American Girl magazine...

I am somewhat reluctant to encourage the consumerism that this toy seems to perpetuate. We don't have tons of money and cannot afford all the accessories... will this magazine encourage that?

I came across New Moon Girls on Amazon... is that similar without the commercialism?

Help!

[karne]

At 6 my dd would have been young for some of the content for New Moon-maybe 8 or 9, but you know your child. We have had the American Girl magazine and dd liked it, as well as Discovery Girls--kind of pop culture, fluffy, etc., but mine is a pre-teen, so that meets a need she currently has.

She has also enjoyed Spider magazine at the age your dd is. Highlights is still around, and my 7 y/o loves it.

[zeldamomma]

I like both magazines, but for a 6 year old, I'd go for AG. American Girl magazine isn't about the dolls. It's kind of like "Martha Stewart" for girls-- lots of crafts, party ideas, recipes... I was concerned about it being an overly commercial magazine before I saw it, but it's not an issue at all.

New Moon Girls is a much meatier magazine. It is generally filled with articles talking about what life is like for tween girls in different places and cultures. I don't think many 6 year olds would find New Moon Girls interesting.

[LynnS6]

What about the Cricket magazines (at her age, they recommend "Spider", but her reading level is probably ready for Cricket itself)? They have no ads and good stories. They also have ones devoted to history, science, cultures, etc. Another possibility would be something like Highlights.

[Black Orchid]

Highlights isn't cutting it, unfortunately, which is why we're looking for more "girlie" mags... I get BH&G and Family Circle and she likes looking at that. I'm starting to think that NM would be too old, maybe in 3 or 4 years... I don't know about Spider or Cricket... I'll look into those! Thank you!

[christina78]

I really like AG mag.

[neonalee]

We got AG for DSD, I think she was 8? Then she outgrew it. We aren't into consumerism either, but I didn't mind that magazine, or the AG books. Sometimes DSD would surprise me with things she'd learned from them. She has 1 doll only and a couple of outfits. Kids love getting things in the mail and I felt it was worth it for that, and the activities in it. It also kept her reading at a time when she wasn't interested in doing so (not a problem now lol).

She just turned 11 and has been reading Discovery Girls for 2 years now and wants to continue. You can buy single copies of New Moon online, which is what I did to see if DSD was interested. She wasn't sadly. I thought it would be better for her then DG. I think both DG and New Moon are good mags once your DD gets older, which one might depend on her personality.

[TiredX2]

DD is turning 11 this weekend and just started getting American Girl. She has never been interested before (she has gotten a number of the Cricket Magazines & Ranger Rick) this year. She has never gone for New Moon, I show it to her at the library often. It is definately not a reading level issue, it just doesn't interest her