The Week Junior news magazine for kids
by Future PLC (website )
A weekly news magazine designed to help children ages 8–14 explore current events, science, and culture.
Best Fit For
Families looking for a secular, low-effort way to incorporate current events and civics into their routine, especially for students who enjoy visual layouts or struggle with dense text.
Not Recommended For
Families seeking a comprehensive, full-year social studies curriculum or those who prefer a news source with a specific religious or highly traditionalist perspective.
What Reviewers Say
Reviewers consistently praise The Week Junior for its ability to make complex current events accessible and engaging for children aged 8–14. Homeschooling parents, as seen in discussions on the Well-Trained Mind forums and Reddit, value it as a low-prep supplement for social studies and critical thinking, often noting that it sparks organic family discussions. The magazine is lauded for its 'Big Debate' section, which presents two sides of an issue without taking a stance, fostering critical thinking. While the reporting is generally viewed as balanced and neutral, some users have raised concerns about the handling of sensitive social topics, though these are minority views. A recurring logistical complaint involves the difficulty of canceling subscriptions and occasional delivery delays, but the editorial quality remains a 'gold standard' for non-partisan children's news.
How It Works
Each week when the 32-page magazine arrives in the mail, the child typically spends 30 to 60 minutes reading through colorful sections covering world news, science, and animals. Parents often use the 'Big Debate' feature as a structured family discussion at the kitchen table, where the child weighs two sides of a current issue and explains their own viewpoint. Some families use the 'Quiz of the Week' on the final page as an informal way to check reading comprehension and memory. Because it is a physical magazine, no extra materials or screens are required, making it a portable supplement that can be used independently by the child or as a shared read-aloud.
Switching to This?
Since this is a news magazine rather than a sequential textbook, there are no formal placement tests or diagnostic tools required for entry. The community rule of thumb is that if a child is reading independently at a 3rd-grade level or higher, they can dive straight into the current issue. Families can start a subscription at any time of the year without missing prerequisite information, as each issue focuses on the latest global happenings. If you are switching from a more rigid, textbook-based social studies program, expect a transition toward more conversational learning where the child leads the curiosity through current events rather than a set timeline of history.
Curriculum Details
- Price
- $75 - $129
- Grades
- 3 - 9
- Available As
- Print Digital
- Coverage
- Supplement
- Pacing
- Self-paced
- Parent Time
- 0-15 min/day
- Parent Involvement
- None
- Student Independence
- Fully independent
- Academic Level
- Grade level
- Worldview
- Neutral
- Teach Multiple Ages
- Yes
- Engaging for Reluctant Learners
- Yes
Standard annual subscription is approximately $99, but introductory offers (e.g., 6 issues for $1 or 25% off) are frequent. Digital-only and Print+Digital bundles are available.
Parent Role:
Parents typically use the magazine as a conversation starter or a prompt for social studies discussions, but children can read it entirely independently.
Videos
5th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks: What We're Using This Year
by Erica Ouderland
Reviews We Consulted
Praises the magazine's rich content and high-interest articles for sparking deep educational conversations, noting its versatility for both homeschooling and classroom environments.
"Not a week goes by that we aren’t engrossed in a conversation spurred by a story in the magazine. Not only that, but I am constantly finding ways that I can incorporate the magazine into my teaching... I fell in love with the rich content, the timely news articles, and the full-color pictures throughout."
Appreciates the variety of topics but expresses concern over perceived political leanings and historical inaccuracies, noting that sensitive subjects are sometimes treated as mere footnotes.
"Overall though, I feel this magazine leaves me wanting more. While I appreciate it bringing up hard topics such as racism and stating what racism is, it does it more as a footnote at the end of many articles. It also chooses not to bring attention to these topics so if you aren’t explicitly talking about it with your children it can be missed."
Describes the magazine as a high-quality "boredom buster" that promotes critical thinking and optimism by empowering children with age-appropriate information on real-world issues.
"The pages are colorful and the articles are both well-written and thought-provoking. They talk about current and real issues: elections, the Covid vaccine, we’ve read them all. They give children a feeling of optimism, and show them, in a variety of ways, how they can make a difference in the world."
Enthusiastically endorses the publication for making children feel informed through balanced, intelligent, and age-appropriate commentary on everything from animals to current affairs.
"Xander adores the animal stories, film reviews and puzzles within the pages whilst Oliver laps up the science, arts and current affairs coverage. There’s something for every child, whatever their interest and ability... The Week Junior is aimed at 8-14 year olds offering intelligent, balanced, newsworthy and age-appropriate commentary."
Recommends the magazine for its concise format, noting that short, "to the point" articles make global events and national news digestible for the middle-grade age range.
"The Week Junior is a weekly publication that teaches kids about current events... Explains current affairs related to national news, global events, debates, people, animals, and sports; Articles are short and to the point."
Updated: March 2026
How This Compares
Compared to TIME for Kids, which is largely designed for classroom use and can feel like a traditional school assignment, The Week Junior has a more 'lifestyle' feel that includes puzzles and book reviews to keep kids engaged. When weighed against Scholastic News, The Week Junior generally offers more depth and covers more complex global political topics, making it better for middle schoolers who have outgrown simpler news formats. For families considering CNN 10, the main difference is the medium; while CNN 10 provides a fast-paced daily video, The Week Junior focuses on building long-form reading stamina and physical literacy. Unlike World Kids, which reports news from a specific Christian worldview, The Week Junior maintains a secular and neutral stance, which is a key factor for families looking for non-partisan reporting. Finally, compared to a comprehensive curriculum like Blackbird & Company, this magazine acts as a low-prep supplement that keeps social studies focused on the present day rather than deep-diving into historical literature.
Getting Started
Try It Free
Allows parents to receive the first six printed issues for free to evaluate the magazine's fit for their child.
You Might Also Like
Kamali Academy
by Kamali Academy (Dr. Samori Camara)
An Afrocentric, project-based curriculum for Black families seeking a culturally relevant "Educat...
Teachers Pay Teachers
by Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT)
A massive online marketplace where educators buy and sell original instructional materials, units...
The Great Courses Plus
by The Teaching Company
University-professor video lectures across history, science, and the arts — a secular streaming l...
The Thinking Tree
by The Thinking Tree LLC
A creative "Fun-Schooling" framework using art-based journals to guide interest-led research, ide...