Card Tricks for Kids

[haroldross]

I don't usually do card tricks for kids bit this afternoon I was specifically asked to do just that.

I did the 'blank' deck and even had some of the adults baffled. The big hit of the card tricks was the color changing deck using a R/B DB. They all got a chance to pick their favorite card. Each time they watched closely as I put the blue card on top of the deck and turned it over and it was their card. I had them then turn their card over and it now had a red back. The hardest part of the trick was the misdirection while I reset the deck to blue.

I did 'Biddle' and that got quite a reaction when the card disappeared and then reappeared in the middle of the deck upside-down.

I don't think I'll make it a regular habit to do card routines for kids, but today they were the hit of the show. You just have to learn to go with the flow.

[David24]

I think that it's not so easy to do magic tricks for children(but once we understand it's also not so difficult). It depends their age and how many they are, but we must keep in mind that their logic isn't the one from an adult.
Really basic sleight of hands or principles (but well done or children won't keep their tongues in their mouths...) are normally enough but it's not the more important part.
For me it's important to do visual magic (it's more easier for children to follow)and to be careful that they understand well the effects, to just understand that it's magic.
I can remember the first time I tried an ambitious card routine with children and I learnt a lot this day.
the response has been: "yeah, and what? it's not magic the card is just coming back at the top of the deck...", it was near normal that the card has done that.
So for me the magic isn't in the effect but how we'll sell it to them.
You can amaze more children with a good story than with a trick with bad presentation.
We need to make them dream and then all is possible for them at this point.
So for me, a good entertaining story and good presentation is far more important than the trick.
One of the bettest effect that I've done for children use really no trick, just their hability to dream, then they make the dream come true. But it's another story.
Now I really love to show children "canibals cards"(Bilis version), I need between 5 and 10 minutes to tell the story that I've create and children just stay there, mouths open, drinking words...
I don't tell that we must do that but it's how I like to do magic with children(even I do honestly few)
Last point when they are several children then things are a bit different, I think that a good management is really important there.

[haroldross]

David14-

You make some good points. Patter and presentation are key with children and adults. I chose the 'Blank Deck' and 'Color Changing Deck' because they are so visual. "Biddle' worked only because they were able to choose the card they liked.

Doing shows for children will keep your skills in tune. Keeping their attention and keeping them under control can be challenging at times.

[David24]

I can remember a magician who had a method to control childrens.
At the beginning of the show he played with children by making then shout, applause, then play silence when he was doing some hands movments.
It was like a game,and it can be really funny well managed, but the "undertruth"(don't really know if this word exist ) was elsewhere:
He was teaching them that he was the master on stage and by doing those same movments in the show the children had the choosen and "conditioned" comportment.(played as a leitmotiv it can also be funny)
It's not exactly that but you've the idea.
I won't tell you who was this magician since I'm not sure that it was exactly his methodology(it was long time ago). lol. anyway I'm sure that what I wrote work since I tried it .

And yeah, blank deck and color changing decks are for sure good choices.
Another possibility on stage can be to have special cards designed for kids like the raminagrobis trick.

[Eoin Lavery]

Doing card tricks for younger children really is made a lot easier by a much simpler patter for children to understand. I find it is easier for them to understand to make references or tricks based on storied which children may be familiar with, such as nursery rhymes. Also childrens attention span is a lot less than adults so asking questions to a group or individual children to keep them involved and focused is also a good idea and will significantly help in performing for children.

[David24]

You're right, to keep children attention (and not only in magic) interactivity is important, if they participate it'll be easier to keep their attention...
Or you can be a good story-teller.
Good storytelling can be as strong as magic, it's the magic of dreams.(hmm I think that I've already spoke about that)
I've seen children like hypnotize in front of good story tellers, they have the abilities to make children (and sometimes adults) travelling in imaginary countries where they don't want to go out. We mustn't forget the power of words...
The techniques that they use are really amazing.