Are magic tricks and kids a good combination? Few pairs in this world are as enchanting as that of children and magic and this is a pair in which each is definitely made for the other.
Childhood is described as being one of the most magical periods in a lifetime when imagination is at its wildest and creativity at its optimum level.
So what could be a better way to encourage a child to make good use of both than apply it in magic, for enjoying, understanding as well as performing?
While magic has a charm of its own and is quite absorbing to watch for all age groups, for children it goes beyond a fun experience and has some educational benefits as well. It urges them to explore beyond what is visible and realize the importance of concentration both in work and play.
In fact, kids usually get so involved with magic that many times they end up wondering and inquiring aloud as to how it happened and what might have caused it – something that most magicians find extremely annoying. And so magic tricks and kids are a great combination.
At this point it is imperative for a magician to understand that although children do not make good spectators they are a wonderful choice for a partner and getting them into the thick of the action would be like a dream-come-true for them.
This is why magicians like Magic Bob Raynor who perform at birthday parties, schools, day camps and so on generally entail active participation from children and enable them to experience magic first-hand.
Such magicians also devise tricks in accordance with the age of the kids and their interests so the show is a memorable experience for all those who have watched it.
Calling the birthday child on to the stage and making balls pop out of their ears will surely make their birthday special while the kids in the audience can become involved by having colourful pom-poms hover over their heads or scarves zipping past their heads.
Impressing kids with magic is not as difficult as Magic Bob Raynor claims, provided certain basic guidelines are borne in mind before and during the performance.
Some of the points which should be heeded while selecting magic tricks for kids are:
- Children are fascinated by different colours and shapes and hence performing magic tricks which entail use of bright colours would be perfect to grab their attention and keep them absorbed.
An important factor pertaining to children is their short attention span which is why it is important to select magic tricks which are not too long. Children tend to lose patience with tricks which seem to be never ending and might just begin to wander around if the tricks do not end quickly.
. - Birds and animals hold a special appeal for children and hence any magic show pertaining to them must feature these.
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Some of the common tricks entail pulling out rabbits from hats, converting napkins into birds and balls into butterflies as these never fail to draw endless squeals of delight and laughter.
. - Weaving stories into your magic would make the show even more interesting because if there is something that children love besides magic, it is stories. Therefore, a seamless combination of the two would be an ultimate in entertainment and would also reflect well on your abilities as a magician.
It is essential to select magic tricks which correspond to the age of the children and complicated magic like card tricks and something that appears violent, harsh and serious should be duly avoided.
Ultimately, the aim of the show is to induce a smile on the faces of the children and make it entertaining so that they have many pleasant memories to take away with them. Balance the magic tricks and kids will be happy.
Magic tricks and kids, it helps in many different ways and as the famous magician Ryan Oakes claims, it is possible for anyone to be a good magician. Of course he advocates that aspiring little magicians must start with simple tricks and then move on to more complex ones depending on their level of mastery.
Showing children tricks like broken toothpick, mind reading and cut and restores string are ideal to start with and as the children become more adept, they can be shown how to deal with cards.
As children pick up these tricks they not only develop confidence but sharp mental faculties and manual dexterity as well. On their part, the magicians must also set a good example while dealing with their young pupils and some of the must-have attributes are:
A Good Memory
All good magicians whether they perform for kids as does Ryan Oakes or are capable of complicated magic like David Blaine, perform tricks from their memories.
So while picking up the easier tricks, children need to use their memory a great deal in recalling all the steps, method of operation and all the paraphernalia that would be required.
Dexterity With Your Hands
Magic entails swift and smooth movements of hands and also a great degree of hand-eye coordination. This undoubtedly requires hours of practice and dedication to ensure that every trick is performed with perfection.
An Active Mind
The concept of magic is difficult for kids to understand and questions are inevitable. On their part magicians need to respect this inquisitiveness and tackle the situation so that while the kids do not lose interest in the show, they learn to respect the other’s talents as well.
Powerful Presence
It is imperative for magicians to maintain a powerful presence on stage as only then will they be able to carry out all their magic tricks with grace and aplomb.
Choosing Tricks
The chosen tricks should coincide with the intellect of the kids and their academic level. Failure to follow this principle could mean that the children lose interest.
Magic Tricks and Kids, great for them and a business for you.
