I got a subscription for Family Fun from a juice box insert. I had to send in two labels plus $5 and, since I am a sucker for magazines, I couldn't resist.
Based on the name of the magazine, I expected the content to include games,recipes,crafts and other ideas for fun things to do with my family. The magazine does have those things but they weren't exactly what I expected. The crafts are usually pretty involved and most don't appeal to us. The travel ideas are usually not in our area. Overall, I can usually find a few things that we might do but most of the content is not helpful for our family. Here is the typical content so you can determine if it suits you and your family:
CRAFTS
Admittedly, we are not a crafty family. We usually do crafts on rainy day when we need to fill an hour or two. Our crafts are usually not that complex - and generally involve painting or drawing. I have a decent amount of craft supplies, but don't have rooms and rooms of stuff. I was disappointed in the craft portions of Family Fun because so many crafts are complex, require several hours of set up or clean up and require materials that we don't have. I would have preferred more quick and easy crafts for the artistically-challenged.
On the other hand, if you are the crafty type and have a lot of free time with your children and like to tackle larger projects, then you can find some neat ideas here.
The May 2003 issue has page dedicated to making a stick pony. To start, you cut an empty cereal box into the shape of a horse's head (already past my skill level). You then paint the horse's face onto the cereal box and add a yarn mane and forelock. The next step is to add corrugated cardboard into the cereal box to reinforce it. The stick is a long wooden dowel. Of course, we don't have long wooden dowels in our craft supplies at home and would have to search for the corrugated cardboard. This whole craft is way too complex for my kids and would become tedious by the end. As I said, this might be a great project for the artistically-inclined but it was not for us.
Family Fun does have some simpler crafts. However, some of the simple crafts are not our style or were boring. There is simple craft in the April 2003 issue to make a modified paper airplane. To make the airplane, you make two paper loops and attach them to a drinking straw. When I proposed this idea to my kids, I got two big yawns. There is a cute idea for mother's day cards that involved paper bags, acrylic paint and markers. We did a modified version of this craft and enjoyed it but could have thought of it on our own.
When I need craft inspiration, I usually turn to the internet and can find reams of ideas for free using any of the search engines. I really couldn't recommend this magazine for the crafts at the full subscription price since the internet is probably a better source for ideas.
RECIPES
The recipes are my favorite part of the magazine. I am always looking for new recipes and there are a lot in each issue. Happily, the recipes are for main courses and side dishes, including vegetables. These are the areas I need suggestions for. My kids willingly eat dessert. It is the vegetables I have trouble selling so any creative ideas to dress them up are always welcome. Most of the recipes are healthy, easy to make and use ingredients I have on hand. Additionally, there are full color pictures of serving suggestions for inspiration.
Of course, Family Fun has several dessert recipes in each issue. I don't use these as much since we have our dessert routines down and the last thing I need to do is introduce different ways to eat sweets. However, if you are looking for bake sale ideas or fancy desserts, you can find some inspiration here.
TRAVEL
The magazine has a big focus on travel ideas which surprised me. Sure, my family has fun on vacation, however our vacations usually are either quick weekend getaways or well-researched, once-a-year long distance vacations.
The magazine highlights lots of quick getaways. The problem is that the magazine is national in scope so that most of the items they feature will not be near you. They usually highlight events that will occur in the next month, so there is not enough time to make affordable long distance travel plans. Plus, a lot of the magazine's suggestions are for things like museum exhibits or performing arts. There are similar events in almost every city and the events they highlight don't justify long distance travel. For example, one feature was a puppet show in Atlanta. I can see puppet shows near me - why travel to Atlanta? Most people would be much better off with a local newspaper listing of events in the city closest to them. I find this part of the magazine a complete waste of time.
There is a longer, more useful, section on destination travel. This is a 3-5 page section that highlights a particular area and gives detailed information on where to stay and what to do. They also give good ideas on places that will welcome and interest children. While I haven't used any of their travel ideas, I think this section could be particularly helpful for anyone looking for ideas to plan their next long-distance family vacation. In addition to the longer section, there are shorter one-page descriptions of destinations.
GREAT IDEAS - SUGGESTIONS FROM READERS
The magazine is also filled with little blurbs sent in by readers about how they solved particular problems. One reader suggested turning an old plastic wading pool into a garden by filling it with dirt. Clearly, these ideas won't appeal to everyone but there may be a nugget or two that you could adapt to your family.
OTHER CONTENT
The rest of the magazine's content is similar to most other magazines. There is a short editorial from the editor, and letters from readers complimenting the magazine.
The Family Almanac section has lots of blurbs with easy crafts, quick games and treats (usually cupcake decorating). In the May 2003 issue they have a blurb about a pizza pie planter where you take a half barrel planter and plant tomatoes, basil, oregano, peppers and other pizza ingredients. I though this was a cute idea, but it is hardly quick, cheap or easy (my three favorite adjectives). The planter, seedlings, potting soil and drainage rocks would cost at least $50 in our area and it would be about 8 weeks before anything could be harvested.
Family Fun is not too heavy on articles although each issue does have one or two on various topics loosely related to family. The articles are just okay and not particularly well-written or informative.
There are also other one-page articles on various topics. The April 2003 issue had a one-page article on how to have a garage sale. There was a another article on finding information on music on the internet.
There are also book and video reviews which are basically recommendations to buy new books and videos.
ADVERTISING
Like any other magazine, there are plenty of ads, but there seems to be more content here than in other magazines.
PRICE
I got a good price for this subscription. I had to mail in two juice box labels and $5 and got a 1 year subscription. Inserts in the magazine say a 1 year subscription is 10 issues and costs $14.95.
WEB SITE
The web site for the magazine is www.familyfun.com. This site is linked to Disney's comprehensive site for families. This site has tons of crafts, recipes, travel ideas, parenting ideas and almost anything else you can think of. The web site is far more comprehensive and helpful than the magazine and it is free!!
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
Family Fun is just okay. Since I paid $5 for my subscription, I feel like I got enough things to do for my money. I wouldn't pay the full subscription price when there is more information available on the web site for free. I am recommending the magazine because it will definitely appeal to crafty types and the recipes section is pretty good.
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