Where Do Kids Get Their News?

Sources like Scholastic Magazines provide students with both current events and interesting facts about the joys of the world.

Kids hear about current events every day, whether from their parents, teachers, or classmates at school. With news scattered across numerous websites, social media, and newspapers, it can be challenging for kids to keep track of all the information coming at them. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram present information in short videos and posts which can make stories easy to see but not always easy to trust. When it is time to process everything, the facts can easily get mixed up. 

Tips for Evaluating the News 

Lauren Flanagan, the Education Editor for Scholastic’s STEAM magazine group, discussed ways to differentiate between reputable and misleading news. She said, “It's all about checking your sources, making sure they're reputable. Especially now in the world of AI, it's really important that you comb through all these databases. You can't just go off the first paragraph you see.” 

When evaluating a news source, it is smart to double-check information, compare different sources, and think about who wrote it and why. 

Kids Share Their Experience

Dia, a 5th grader from New York City, gets her news from Scholastic Magazines. “I like how Scholastic Magazines give great information and provide great facts. I learned about the monarch butterflies and their metamorphosis and how they travel from North America to their wintering grounds in California and Mexico.” 

Flanagan explained how her team tries to get kids engaged with the news through creative, nonfiction articles. She said, “We try to showcase the latest current events and happenings, but we also try to show students the joys of the world and the amazing things that people are doing to help our planet to make a real difference, and magazines are a good tool to do that.” 

Why Staying Informed Matters

Emma, a 7th grader from New York City, thinks it is important for kids to know what is happening in the world. She said, “If kids don't know what's happening in the world, they won't be prepared for everyday problems in the future.” 

Emma believes that kids today are just as capable of understanding current events as adults; they just need the right information. When kids stay informed, they can make better choices and have a greater understanding of the world. 

Ms. Macris, a 5th-grade teacher at PS 59 in New York City, believes Scholastic Magazines are a great news source for kids to get their news. She said, “Scholastic Magazines can be a very good resource for kids, especially because they don't cater to any particular kind of kid.” She goes on to say, “Another reason I think they are a good resource is they keep the perspective of a kid in mind instead of being an adaptation of an article written for adults.” 

There are a ton of ways kids can find out what is happening in the world, like talking to parents or teachers, watching TV, and seeing posts on social media. No matter the medium, it is important to ask questions and check other sources to make sure the information is true.