Popular Science is a Permanent Fixture in Our Household

We have been getting Popular Science in the mail for so long that I can't even remember when we first subscribed. It has certainly been at least eight years, because I am thinking my son was about ten when we first subscribed and he is eighteen now.

I think I have gotten as much enjoyment out of this magazine as my son has, and I know he loves it because every time a renewal form has come in he has been insistent on Popular Science being renewed.

When he first started to receive it, I wasn't sure. I did not recall ever seeing an issue of Popular Science before, so I wasn't sure to expect. Frankly, over the years, my kids have sworn they would die if they didn't get a subscription to a particular magazine and then ultimately not even bothered to read the issues that arrived in the mail, so that is probably where some of my skepticism comes from.

At any rate, after a few issues arrived and my son devoured them I thought I better check it out. After the first issue I was hooked as strongly as he was. (Not that I would admit that fact to many of my friends; after all, isn't this a child's magazine? We'll see later on in the review.)

Popular Science is probably one of the best uses of my money in regards to my children that I have experienced. I am very happy with the cost of this magazine, and I am delighted that my son continues to want to read it. My teenage daughters are not as interested in it as he is, but their focus is more on boys and fashion and makeup so I suppose that is a natural reaction.

So what does Popular Science have to offer? First of all, informative articles. These articles are very well-written, and they are not written on a small child's perspective. I would have to say that this magazine is more suited to a teenager or adult than a ten-year-old, based on the reading level and informative content. My son is very advanced, which is why I think he began enjoying this magazine at such a young age.

Next, Departments. Be sure to check these out; they include an article from the Editor-in-Chief, letters from readers, a section called "Man and Machine", a section called "FYI", and a section called "Looking Back". I go to these first when I pick up this magazine.

The next section I check out is entitled "Features". This is where you will find the current edition's articles. Interesting! For example, in the April 2002 edition the featured articles are about Nasa, hybrid-electric cars, the effect of drugs and alcohol on the brain, and antimatter. Fascinating articles!

Other sections of Popular Science include "What's New", "Newsfiles", "Test Pages", and "Citizen Science". All are well worth the read and have been in every issue I have picked up, which is far too many to count.

Science affects all of us in one way or another, whether we are involved in the scientific field or simply citizen observers. I personally never liked science when I was in school, and dreaded the classes. If I would have had access to Popular Science back then, however, my attitude quite likely would have been different.

Why? Partly because Popular Science puts science into perspective; into an easy-to-comprehend format that teaches and entertains at the same time. I have always been the kind of parent that is very involved in my children's education, and it struck me today that I have been overlooking a valuable resource to provide home teaching experiences to my children. My son already knows and appreciates the value of this magazine, but my daughters do not. Periodically I give "homework" to my kids, to supplement what they are learning in school and to keep those creative juices flowing when they are away from the school educational environment. Well, from now on I am going to assign them to read articles in Popular Science. At the very least it will give them additional information about the scientific world. And just maybe, it might spark their curiosity about science in general. Either way, we all win.

My son is away at college, so I get to see his editions of Popular Science before he does. I am grateful for the fact that he has not changed his mailing address yet! Soon I will be sending him a care package to carry him over spring break, and I will be putting his recent editions of this magazine inside the box. Part of me is already regretting the loss of this resource coming to my mailbox every month.

Who knows, maybe I will just subscribe myself! If you have any teenagers, boys or girls, on your gift list consider giving them a subscription of this magazine. It is worth every penny of the $16.00 annual subscription fee.