"Being able to do something, come back to it, seeing where you left off and where your work was, and then pick up where you left off I think is a really important part of how Highlights magazine can help with brain development," Barrett says.īut that doesn't mean Highlights isn't evolving. But Highlights found a way to slow things down and still capture kids' attention, with short articles and puzzles. She says kids face all sorts of fast-paced entertainment with video games and movies. Those things aren't changing."Įllen Barrett is a family development specialist with the nonprofit group Family Connections, in the Cleveland area. How do I get along with my siblings? What happens when I have a falling out with my best friend? Those things are universal. "But what we know is kids still have some of the same issues they've had since 1946. ![]() "I think adults believe that everything's changed for kids, we've got devices and it's busy and all these things," Johnson says. He says the secret to Highlights' longevity is to constantly remain focused on their number one priority: kids. Johnson knows a thing or two about "Goofus and Gallant." His great-grandfather, Garry Cleveland Myers, created the comic and founded Highlights for Children with his wife Caroline just after World War II. "We're always aspiring to be our Gallant, but also if I do something that's a little Goofus how do I make up for it? How do I apologize? How do I make things right?" Johnson asks. Kent Johnson, Highlights' CEO, explains more of what Goofus and Gallant are trying to teach children. It's practice for the big, harder moral decisions that are going to come later." "Part of its appeal to young children is its lack of ambiguity," says French Cully. They first appeared in the pages of Highlights, as elves, in 1948. Then there's "Goofus and Gallant," a comic featuring two contrasting characters: Goofus modeling bad behavior, and Gallant modeling good. Other legacy features include "The Timbertoes," an illustrated comic centered around a wood-carved family, which debuted in Highlights in 1951. So for example, we always have a Hidden Pictures in every issue of Highlights, in fact, there's been a Hidden Pictures in every issue of highlights since June 1946," says French Cully, who adds that part of their success is due to these recurring games and stories. "They're nonnegotiable, they're in every issue. ![]() ![]() The most popular feature among the students is "Hidden Pictures," the visual puzzle that challenges kids to find small pictures inside a larger scene.Ĭhristine French Cully, Highlights' editor-in-chief, says it's one of several legacy features that are recurring elements of the magazine. The kids are quick to list off their favorite parts of the magazine, from the articles to the puzzles. It can be hard to stay relevant in the ever-changing world of children's entertainment, but Highlights For Children magazine has lasted for generations by sticking to the formula of mixing fun with learning.Īs Emily Burkhalter's third grade class at Evening Street Elementary School in Worthington, Ohio, is enjoying a free reading period, a top choice among the students is Highlights.
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