Usually, the more intelligent an audience is, the more magic they experience. This is because as people learn more about the way the world works, the more they know just how impossible something is. But does that mean kids enjoy magic less than adults?
You might say, “Chris, kids love magic.”
And they do. But only if it is carefully constructed to appeal to their stage of development.
This is why child psychology plays a big part in my birthday party and children’s magic shows.
Children under 3 or 4 years old don’t know all the rules of nature. For all they know, things really do appear and disappear. When they close their eyes, they can’t see themselves and therefore they think you can’t see them either. As a result, typical magic shows don’t amaze them as much as older kids.
But after that, kids have enough understanding of how the world works to recognize something magical when they see it. Many of them believe the fantasies they see in movies, cartoons, books and their own imaginations are real, therefore when I step onto the stage, I’m not a magician, I’m a wizard. Often, at least up until the age of 7 or 8, the magic I do is real. There’s no illusion. These children enjoy the show because everything I do (and the things I help them do) are possible only with real magic. And now, they get to see it in person!
When a child reaches 8-10 years old, they realize magical powers do not exist and a magician is using “trickery.” They often want to figure out how it’s all done. They may even call out any old explanation that pops into their mind. Disruptive as that may sound, it’s also empowering. And children need to feel empowered in a world where they usually are not… where they’re usually instructed by adults. But if they can teach an adult how something is done, they’ll feel empowered.
I recommend you have a kids magic show that caters to each age group and what entertains them…
… this way, different moments target different ages in different ways…
… and you’ll have a show everyone can enjoy, including the adults (they deserve to be amazed as well).
This is exactly what I do in my shows.
For the older group I just mentioned, my show includes comedywhere something goes wrong, or I’m wrong while the children are right and can inform me or teach me something. I also have moments where the children are responsible for creating the magic, not me. These things all serve to empower them in positive ways.
I include moments of silliness every age group will enjoy and of course, I make sure to have magic so strong that even adults are amazed… which not only amazes the younger children but brings the wonder back for the older kids, as there seems to be no explanation.
Finally, I learned from a veteran children’s entertainer that when younger kids are present, the older kids enjoy the magic through the younger ones’ eyes. You are likely familiar with this feeling but may have assumed it was an exclusively adult experience. But kids as young as 10 can experience it as well.
Creating a show mixed with all these elements helps me entertain the full range of guests at children’s parties and family events.
And where most magicians babysit the kids for the duration of the show while parents sit around in boredom, my show includes everyone. If that’s the kind of entertainment you’d like at your next children’s event or party, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Chris, at LosAngelesKidsMagician.com. I’d love to be of service!