WHY CHILDREN NEED MAGIC 
BY PETER WELLS
MY ARTICLE RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THE SUSSEX EDITITON OF ABC MAGAZINE
JULY - NOVEMBER 2007

Magic is everywhere in children’s culture. From a very early age, babies and toddlers are entertained with stories of wizards, witches, fairies and magic kingdoms. These are themes that continue throughout childhood and into adult life through songs, cinema and literature – the very success of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series shows just how evocative magic can be for children and grown-ups alike. Consider too the bulk of Hollywood’s big successes, such as Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Eragon and even Star Wars. Superhero movies and comic strips also exploit magical themes, from super strength through flight to x-ray vision and mind-reading.

Magic goes further than just superficial escapist fantasy, though. For all age groups, magic can be a great force for empowerment. All of us are frustrated on a daily basis by other people’s rules and restrictions, be it bureaucratic red tape or the parent’s monotonous mantras of ‘don’t do that’, ‘come down from there’, ‘eat your greens’, ‘leave the cat alone’, and ‘bedtime’. Magic, for a short time at least, makes all those boundaries redundant and gives us the illusion that we have the power to control our own lives and do things our own way. This is especially important for children, who can often feel completely powerless in a world run by adults. It’s no surprise therefore, that children like to dress up as magicians or superheroes, imagining that they possess such fantastic abilities.

Booking a magician for a children’s party takes a child’s perception of magic to an entirely different level. Of course no party magician can hope to compete with the staff and pupils of Hogwarts for sheer spectacle, but that’s neither here nor there. Seeing the impossible happen right in front of you is a far more profound experience than reading about it in books. And making the impossible happen yourself simply blows everything else away. Most good children’s magicians design their routines such that the children make the magic happen – not the magician. It’s a common sight to see a party magician fail repeatedly to make a trick work, only to have a child from the audience succeed on their first attempt. Yes it’s all good comedy, but you should never underestimate the value of putting youngsters in the driving seat from time to time. What can be a bigger kick than succeeding where an ‘expert’ sorcerer with mystical powers fails so dismally?

When I ask an audience of kids who wants to be a magician when they grow up, every hand shoots into the air without hesitation. They jockey for position in order to be the next child that gets to help me with a trick. I can’t think of any other kind of children’s entertainment where the audience becomes so actively involved. For many, this evolves into a love of magic itself. Many children take up magic as a hobby – even if it’s only a short-lived phase. And those that do reap extra benefits as a result. Magic can be an obsessive pastime, and the lessons it teaches are tremendous. Learning to manipulate objects such as coins and cards teaches superb coordination skills. The thrill of performing magic is a great help in developing social skills and overcoming shyness. For the analytical mind, we learn that what you see, hear and read isn’t always what’s really happening. Between the magician and audience, there are two very different perceptions of a single event – all of which encourages children to evaluate information before accepting it as truth.

Above all else, the love of magic is supported by three fundamental conceptual blocks – ‘How does this happen?’, ‘Why does it happen?’, and, possibly most important of all, ‘What if…?’ These are the same questions that drive scientists and artists. And unlike so many aspects of a child’s life, these answers can’t be easily gleaned by quizzing parents or watching telly. Pursuing a passion for magic opens up a whole world of books and research, as well as necessitating a certain amount of lateral thinking and problem solving. And most keen young magicians will face these challenges gladly in the quest for new miracles.

Nobody is in any doubt that children’s magic shows are about comedy and entertainment first and foremost. They’re fun for the kids and fun for the performer, and they also help take some of the pressure off the mums and dads that are organising the party. Children’s magic is more than just ‘clowning with tricks’ though. It’s an interactive and empowering experience for the audience, and opens the door to innumerable new skills and ideas.