Parents Magazine

''Parents'' was an American monthly magazine founded in 1926 that featured scientific information on child development geared to help parents in raising their children. Subscribers were notified of the magazine’s dissolution via a postcard mailing in March 2022.

History

The magazine was started by George J. Hecht in 1926. The magazine was originally titled ''Children, The Magazine for Parents''. Hecht hired Clara Savage Littledale to be its first editor. The first issue was published in October 1926 and soon was selling 100,000 copies a month. Beginning with the August 1929 issue, the name was changed to ''Parents' Magazine'' (with an apostrophe). Littledale was followed as editor by Mary Buchanan. In 1937, the magazine was granted trademark registration for the mark ''Parents' Magazine''."Gruner+ Jahr USA Pub. v. Meredith Corp., 793 F. Supp. 1222 (S.D.N.Y. 1992)"
''Justia'', July 14, 1992.

From 1941 to 1965, Parents' Magazine Press published a line of comic books and magazines heavily featuring comics, including such long-running titles as ''Calling All Girls'', ''Children's Digest'', ''Polly Pigtails'', '' True Comics'', and ''True Picture-Magazine''. Parents Magazine Press also published ''Humpty Dumpty'' from the 1950s through the early 1980s, until it and ''Children's Digest'' were sold to ''The Saturday Evening Post'' company.

''Parents' Magazine'' was sold to Gruner + Jahr in 1978. At that time, the magazine was "relaunched" and its name was shortened, utilizing only the word "Parents", without an apostrophe. Elizabeth Crow became the magazine's editor for the next decade, before being replaced by Ann Pleshette Murphy, who was editor-in-chief between 1988 and 1998, and a contributing editor from 1998 to 2002.

In 1992, Gruner + Jahr filed suit against Meredith for trademark infringement of ''Parents'' when Meredith published ''Parent's Digest''. With the court finding no actual confusion of the products (though there was testimony from managers and employees as to inquiries about a possible relationship between the publications), the case was dismissed.

Meredith acquired ''Parents'' magazine when Gruner + Jahr left the US magazine business in 2005. Sally Lee was the editor from 1998 to 2008. Dana Points was editor-in-chief from 2008 to 2016. The Meredith Corporation would later be acquired by IAC in 2021.

In February 2022, it was revealed that ''Parents'' would end print publication and switch to an all-digital format.

Profile

Its editorial focus is on the daily needs and concerns of mothers with young children. The monthly features information about child health, safety, behavior, discipline and education. There are also stories on women's health, nutrition, pregnancy, marriage, and beauty. It is aimed primarily at women ages 18–35 with young children.

Columns include "As They Grow," which cover age-specific child development issues, as well as the reader-generated "Baby Bloopers," "It Worked for Me," and "Goody Bag." The magazine also produces a website, an iPhone app for kids, ''Parents'' Flash Cards, and GoodyBlog.com, the now-defunct blog.

With its historical reach, ''Parents'' has frequently been used by academics, to document social and cultural shifts over time. Melissa Milkie and Kathleen Denny describe the prominence of the magazine:

Despite its gender-neutral title, the magazine's advice has implicitly been directed toward women. On the February 2019 issue it features a same-sex male couple, the first in its history.

The magazine has received criticism for featuring a bored white child who appears to be screaming, dressed in a toy headdress on its January 2016 cover. Dr. Debbie Reese of American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) called the depiction racist, as it implies a "wild Indian" stereotype.

Medal for "Movie of the Month"

Each month, ''Parents' Magazine'' would award a medal to a "Movie of the Month". The image of the "Movie of the Month" Medal was subsequently used on movie posters and lobby cards.
Past recipients include:

* ''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (March 1939)
* ''The Wizard of Oz'' (September 1939)
* ''Pinocchio'' (December 1939)
* '' Kathleen'' (January 1942)
* ''They Were Expendable'' (December 1943)
* ''Son of Lassie'' (May 1945)
* ''Alice in Wonderland'' (July 1951)
* ''Hansel and Gretel'' (October 1954)Full text of "Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1954)"
Internet Archive.

References

External links

Official website
{{IAC

Defunct lifestyle magazines published in the United States
Magazines established in 1926
Defunct magazines published in New York City
IAC Inc.
Parenting magazines
Magazines disestablished in 2022