Good afternoon to all at TMC I hope you are all well from the topic title my 6 year old son as come to me and told me he would like to learn magic witch I think is great I do not have a huge book collection on magic but looking at what I have is the Mark Wilson book and RRTCM but I think this one could be a little to out of his range I'm looking to find out how I should start helping him on his road to magic becuase who knows in 10 years time he could be the next big thing lol

Mark Wilson's Complete Lessons in Magic is a great book. I wish I would have had in when I just started. It has stuff for the beginner on up. There is also a book that is often spoken about on the Café called The Beginner's Guide to Magic.

Above all, have him practice each routine until he perfects it, THEN move on to the next. Otherwise, he will end up being able to do a lot of tricks poorly, instead of a few effects that will knock their socks off!

You will find plenty of help here, as well.

Thank you very much for your reply and the book recommendation I shall have a look for it now and get it on order. I’m looking at the Mark Wilson's book now short listing a few simple tricks for him to learn my goal for him is to master say 5 simple tricks and then do a small show to me and his mum again thank you very much for the reply.

Regards

Andy

Teach him a simple trick, probably with cards. Just teach him one. That's the best way to get started; a simple, easy-to-do trick that he can perform in front of people.

Hello satellite23 thank you for your reply for a simple trick I was thinking a simple key card location from Mark Wilson's book

From experience with my grand kids I feel this age is a bit too young.
If you must then I suggest finding some self-working tricks.

Thank you for the reply Jaz I see where you are coming from but I think he should be ok with some very basic tricks soley self workers no slights at all

Hi
How about a paddle trick like jumping gems.

I would recommend the Klutz Book of Magic. It's a fun book that comes with a few props and has some great effects. I perform a few in my shows to this day.

-Daniel

Andy,

Six is very young to start magic, but here is a reference that might help. It' Over, Under by Joshua Jay written for kids (Under) and their parents (Over). I've not rears the entire book, but a couple excerpts and it seems pretty good. The book is free and can be downloaded at thus link.:

http://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-d......er-over/

Good luck!
Hudson

I would start with Mark's book. There are some things in there simple enough for him to learn and do. Like the basic cups and balls routine. I started at about 5 years old way back in the 50's. My first magic came in the form of some little one page sheets of tricks you could do if you sent in a bunch of Dr. Pepper bottle caps to Time for Magic, which was Mark's first TV show in Dallas. My next set of tricks came from a Mark Wilson TV Magic Kit, cups and balls was one of the first I learned out of that, and the one that I performed later for my Great Uncle Harry (Blackstone, Sr.) which brought on much applause and praise from him (not that I was any good at it, but hey he was family). You might try some little magic kit, there were a lot of things in Mark's that I could do, with a little instructional help from my dad. Mostly because I couldn't read yet and couldn't read the instructions. I only spent like 5 hours on Christmas day trying to find the trap doors in the cups of the cup and balls set before Dad decided to read the instructions to me. He will be happy to be able to do just a couple of tricks. My mainstay in performance was cups and balls and Buddah papers for my first few years in magic.

At six, it probably needs to be very visual.

The Chinese Sticks is essentially self-working, but to make it effective requires learning some “nuances” as well as timing. This would be something where “magic” could be done immediately, but with plenty of room to grow presentation-wise (that’s where YOU come in!)

I also agree with the good Father, cups and balls is a great start. My first set was red, yellow, and blue plastic “flower pots” from Adams Magic Company, and the routine required no sleights at all beyond learning to turn over the cups smoothly.

Simple effects will allow the child to focus on the acting skills needed to make a “trick” look like Magic!

Good luck and best wishes for a long and happy tutelage!

I agree with this. I've got a 6 year old grandson who wants to learn some magic. My approach is to start by effectively doing the magic for him so we concentrate just on presentation. I'm currently working on the egg bag with him, but by the time I pass the bag to him, the egg is in place ready for him to produce it, and the audience is convinced the bag is empty (I've just failed to produce it, so let's see what my apprentice can do). So he is learning to handle, and enjoy, the WOW!

How about a magic set like this... http://magic.about.com/od/magicconventio......rset.htm
This set is geared towards 7 year olds and up...I began my interest with a magic set I received for Xmas at the age of 9.

Cardamagically,
Dom

Wow thank you all for taking the time to reply in regards to me teaching my son magic. All this info is of great help to and me, me and his mum are already looking for a small magic set for him. At this time I am going to start teaching him on Saturday starting with a very simple key card location from Mark Wilson's book and then I shall take all the information and advice you have all given me so I can help my son even better at learning magic thank you again guys

Regards

Andy

that's the right way! Teach one trick, and well performed, teach the next, and well performed, ......

The best book for children (and adults!) is the book of Joshua Jay! It is AND a book AND a dvd for $ 15,= !!! AND a good quality !!!
http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/S10983

Hi stapper thank you for your reply I have been looking at this book and dvd combo for somtime but was unsure if it would be suitable for him and on a plus side I could learn a few things also

Kids' brains are like sponges at that age! Read him the Aronson stack as a bedtime story. I'm sure he will thank you in years to come.
(I'm only half-serious with that idea)
As someone who also got into magic at a very young age, I wish I'd had such a devoted father. Very commendable.

I highly recommend you take him to a magic shop and ask the counter clerk to show him really simple tricks like the ball vase and coin slide. Although really easy, these tricks get many magicians on their way to a long and rewarding interest in magic. For some of us, careers. The kit listed by DomKabala is great and includes those tricks. I know it's a half day drive (not sure by train) to London but I recall there are a few good shops there, I visited http://www.internationalmagic.com/ the last time I was there. There is something powerful about seeing it and picking it.

Ill second international magic , I know martin ( he runs the shop ) international magic is the only shop I go to because its so laid back and friendly and I suppose most importantly good prices and variety. Great shop! maybe take him when you want to get him a few little props , like rope sponge balls etc any way I'm not gonna tell you what to teach or buy your son but if you go to a shop international magic should be the one.