Read several issues of Parenting Magazine to understand what type of content it accepts, what audience it targets and what sections or features the magazine regularly runs. Compare the table of contents of several issues to get a feel for the layout and what sections your work might best fit. Visit Parenting.com and read some of its online content.
Look at the magazine's masthead and identify the editors of each section. Call the magazine's office at (212) 522-8989 and verify that the masthead is current and that editing positions haven't changed hands. Verify if the publication is currently accepting freelance submissions. Determine if the magazine prefers mail or electronic submissions. Ask how long the magazine takes to respond to queries.
Craft a query letter. Do not complete the actual assignment. Instead research your title and write a sales letter for your piece. Talk about what your article covers, why your article is special, how it will appeal to Parenting Magazine readers, what section you think it should appear in and how you're qualified to write it. Introduce a few variations on the title and some supporting features, such as sidebar quizzes or subsequent lists of items to buy that correspond with your article.
Address your query directly to the editor in charge of your section. Never simply address it to the magazine itself or to the editorial department because your query is likely to be lost in the shuffle. Include all of your contact information, including a SASE if you're sending it through the mail. Make it easy for the editor to get in touch with you.
Follow up on your query after the window for responses has passed. Begin writing the feature only after you've been given an assignment because it's likely the editor will change your original idea or the angle at which you approach it. The editor may also assign you a length different from your proposed article. Freelance writers rarely complete pieces they haven't been assigned and editors rarely read articles they haven't signed off on.