Magic Tricks for Kids – The Complete Guide

Being a full-time magician for over 20 years I have learned a lot about magic tricks for kids. Magic tricks for kids have to be quick, visual, easy to follow, easy to do, and the props have to be fun and interesting to play with. Here are the best magic tricks for kids:

• MAGICIAN COSTUME
• DISAPPEARING CRAYONS
• STATIC WAND
• NICKELS TO DIMES
• SCOTCH AND SODA
• SVENGALI DECK
• PENETRATION FRAME
• CRAZY CUBE
• PENNY TO DIME WITH RED BLOCK
• PENNY TO DIME WITH PEN
• MAGIC MONEY MAKER
• DICE BOMB
• MAGICIAN’S CLOSE UP PAD

Here you will learn everything you need to know about what I consider the best magic tricks for kids, ages 5 and up. I discuss, in detail, with clear pictures, step by step, how to do each trick. I have also provided a Links to Amazon page where you can buy the tricks. These are the ones that I have found to have the best pricing and quality.

Magician Costume

COST: $25.99

A picture is worth a thousand words. See above. When I decided to write this article about the best tricks for kids I also planned to make a video with my daughter Ariel. So along with the tricks I ordered a magician’s costume.

Ariel is almost 6 and the costume fits her well. I would say it is good for ages 5-8, perfect for a boy or a girl. The costume comes with a vest, a cape, a hat, a rabbit, and a wand. It closes by velcro so it is super easy to use. It takes 2 seconds to put on and take off. The costume looks great and Ariel loved wearing it. The costume is perfect for transforming any kid into a magician and also good for Halloween. Highly recommend!

Disappearing Crayons

COST: $12.75 (for 12 boxes)

EFFECT: Magician shows a box of crayons. Magician waves over the box and the crayons disappear. Another wave and the crayons are back.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 2 minutes

HOW TO DO IT

PROPS: Box of crayons

PREPARATION

The small box of crayons is a little bigger than a quarter of your phone. I found them on Amazon, sold in a pack of 12. See link above. Cut out a square above the word CRAYONS. I poked a hole in the center and cut around it. Tape the crayons together and cut them in half. Place them in the box. Tape the top of the box shut. The crayons will slide up and down.

SETUP: Turn the box upside down so the crayons slide into view in the window. Squeeze them in place and flip the box right side up.

PERFORMANCE

• Show the crayons as you squeeze them in place.
• Wave your hand in front and release pressure. The crayons drop and disappear.
• Flip the box upside down so the crayons slide back in the window.
• Wave your hand in front.
• While squeezing flip the box over showing the crayons are back.

IMPORTANT POINTS: When I first saw this trick performed it fooled me. It was quick and visual and the vanish of the crayons was a surprise. Disappearing crayons looks amazing and is super easy to do. Don’t worry about the noise of the crayons dropping.

Static Wand

EFFECT: Magician balances a magic wand against his hand without it falling.

COST: $5.49

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 1 minute

HOW TO DO IT

PROPS: Wand

PERFORMANCE

• Lay the wand across your palm.
• Grip your wrist with your other hand.
• Extend your 1st finger holding the wand in place.

IMPORTANT POINTS: You can do this with anything- a pen, a pencil, a spoon, etc. This is a quick trick and fun to perform. This is also a perfect trick to teach after you do it. A wand comes with the magician costume (see above).

Nickels to Dimes

COST: $5.15

EFFECT: Magician stacks 4 nickels on the back of your hand. The magician places a metal cap over the nickels and waves over the cap. When the cap is lifted the nickels have magically changed to dimes.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 3 minutes

Nickels to Dimes Magic Trick

• 4 dimes
• A fake stack that fits over the dimes
• A nickel
• A metal cap
• A bang ring

HOW TO DO IT

SETUP: Place the dimes in the fake nickel stack and place the nickel on top.

PERFORMANCE

• Show the nickels and act as if you are keeping them squared up.
• Place them on the back of your spectator’s hand.
• Show the metal cap.
• Cover the nickels with the cap, press down to lock them in.
• Wave over the cap.
• Lift showing the nickels have changed to dimes.
• Flash the inside of the cap showing it empty.

RESET: After your performance use the bang ring to dislodge the stack of nickels from the cap. Put the cap in the bang ring and tap it firmly on the table.

IMPORTANT POINTS: This is a really great trick. It is easy, the special coins do all the work. This trick makes use of a very strong and deceptive principle of hiding one object in another. This trick is small and easy to carry and will fool your audience.

Scotch And Soda

COST: $10.09

EFFECT: Magician places two coins in your hand. Magician waves an envelope over your hand. One coin disappears, and appears inside the envelope.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 3 minutes

Scotch and Soda Magic Trick

• Copper coin
• Silver coin heads side locking shell
• Copper/ Silver coin that fits into the shell
• Bang ring

HOW TO DO IT

SETUP: Place the Copper coin in a small envelope. Hold the shell and the locking coin stacked in position to nest them together.

PERFORMANCE

• Place the envelope on the table.
• Show the two coins.
• Ask your spectator to place their hand out. Mime the actions.
• Press and lock the coins as you place them in their hand.
• Close their hand.
• Wave the envelope over their hand.
• Have them open their hand, the coin is gone.
• Have them open the envelope to find the Copper coin.

RESET: After your performance use the bang ring to dislodge the coin from the shell. Put the coin in the bang ring and tap it firmly on the table.

IMPORTANT POINTS: This is a strong trick that will fool your audience. This is another great gimmick coin trick that is easy to carry and perform. Again you are using the principle of hiding one object inside another. You could make the coin appear anywhere, it doesn’t have to end up inside an envelope. The coin could appear inside your pocket.

Svengali Deck

COST: $9.91

EFFECT: Magician shows all the cards are different. Spectator cuts the deck anywhere, looks at a card, and puts it back in the middle. Your spectator again cuts the deck anywhere, and cuts to their card.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 2 minutes

Svengali Deck Magic Trick

• Every other card is the same card and cut shorter.

HOW TO DO IT:

PERFORMANCE

To show the cards are all different, hold the deck from the front with the bottom card toward your audience. Grip the deck from the back with your other hand and flip through the cards with your thumb, like one of those flip books. Because the repeating card is cut shorter, all the cards will appear to be different.

• Place the deck on the table.
• Have your spectator cut the deck anywhere and look at the card.
• Put the cards back on top of their card.
• Again have your spectator cut the deck anywhere.
• When they flip over the card they cut to it will be their card.

IMPORTANT POINTS: Your spectator will always cut to the short card because of how the cards are cut. This trick is very easy to do and a very good one. My 5 year old was able to perform this trick exactly as written here. When your audience is young kids you definitely want to keep your card tricks simple and easy to follow.

PRO TIP: If you flip through the cards the opposite way, they will all be the same. This can be used in certain routines. With some practice you can do a ton of great card magic with a Svengali deck.

Penetration Frame

COST: $5.99

EFFECT: Magician shows a solid frame and puts a card over the middle. Magician pushes a pencil right through the card. The card is pulled out and the frame is still solid.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 3 minutes

Penetration Frame Magic Trick

• The Frame

HOW TO DO IT

SETUP: Grab the Frame, a card, and a pencil.

PERFORMANCE

• Show the frame to your spectator. Let them check it out.
• Hold it with the MADE IN USA etching toward you on top.
• Place a card in the middle which will unlock the plastic.
• Secretly slide the plastic up.
• Stab the pencil through the middle.
• Display it.
• Take out the pencil.
• Secretly slide the plastic down as you remove the card.
• Show the frame is solid.

IMPORTANT POINTS: This is a really good beginner trick for kids. The frame is bright red which is cool and the secret behind the trick is cool. Kids love this kind of magic. To be honest so do I.

Crazy Cube

COST: $5.33

EFFECT: Your spectator chooses a number on a die and places it in a small container. It is then placed in another container. Your spectator holds the containers between their hands and you guess their number.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 2 minutes

Crazy Cube Magic Trick

• Two containers
• A mini die

HOW TO DO IT:

PERFORMANCE

• Show the containers and die to your spectators.
• Tell them to drop the die into the small container, remember the number on top, and cap it.
• Turn around while they do this. Turn back around.
• Pick up the container and gesture with it saying the container is solid.
• Tilt the container up and get your peek of the number as you say this.
• Place the small container inside the larger container and cap it.
• Have your spectator hold the container and concentrate.
• Tell them their number.

IMPORTANT POINTS: This is another really good trick. Play it up a little before you tell your spectator their number, a little acting goes a long way. You can repeat this trick one more time. Two times is enough. Make sure you have enough lighting so you can get your peek. I didn’t when filming this trick with my daughter and struggled to see the number.

Penny To Dime With Red Block

COST: $5.33

EFFECT: Magician places a penny on the back of your hand. Magician shows a small red block, on both sides, and then taps the penny. The penny changes to a dime.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 2 minutes

Penny To Dime With Red Block Magic Trick

• Red block
• Dime
• Magnetic penny shell

HOW TO DO IT

SETUP: Place the penny shell on top of the dime.

PERFORMANCE

• Place the nested penny on the back of someone’s hand.
• Show the top and bottom of the red block.
• Tap the penny stealing the shell.
• Move away and casually place the red block on the table.

RESET: After you do the trick put the shell back on the dime so you are set to repeat the trick.

IMPORTANT POINTS: This is another perfect fun little trick. It is small and easy to do and the red block is cool looking.

Penny to Dime With Pen

COST: $11.19

EFFECT: Magician places a penny on the back of your hand. Magician taps on the coin with a pen and it visually changes to a dime.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 3 minutes

Penny To Dime With Pen Magic Trick

• Pen
• Dime
• Magnetic penny shell

HOW TO DO IT

SETUP: Place the penny shell on top of the dime.

PERFORMANCE

• Place the nested penny on the back of someone’s hand.
• Tap the end of the pen on the penny so it sticks.
• Move the pen away and pivot the end with the penny into your hand.

RESET: Put the shell back on the dime and you are ready to go.

IMPORTANT POINTS: I remember being fooled by this at a magic shop when I was a kid and I bought the trick. It is super cool. When done well this is a strong trick. A few minutes of practice goes a long way here.

Magic Money Maker

COST: $7.88

EFFECT: Magician shows a blank piece of paper and rolls it into a little machine. It comes out the other side as real money.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 3 minutes

Magic Money Maker

• Money Maker Machine
• $1 bills

HOW TO DO IT

This was super confusing for me so I spent some time figuring this out. Here is what I learned.

• Always keep the red knobs toward you.
• Always turn the red knobs clockwise.
• Load in the money from one side turning one knob.
• During performance load the opposite side and turn the other knob.

SETUP: Roll the $1 bills into the Money maker.

PERFORMANCE

• Show the Money Maker
• Show the blank pieces of paper
• Roll a blank piece of paper in and a dollar comes out.
• You can do this for as many bills as you preloaded.

RESET: After your performance remove the blank pieces of paper and reset/ reload your money maker.

IMPORTANT POINTS: This is not really a magic trick yet it has a very cool and magical feel to it.

Dice Bomb

COST: $7.88

EFFECT: Magician shows a container with a large black die in it. Magician closes the container, shakes the die, and it turns into a bunch of white baby dice.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED: 3 minutes

Dice Bomb Magic Trick

• Container
• Hollowed out black die
• 8 mini white dice

HOW TO DO IT

SETUP: Place the mini dice into the black die. Gently slide it to the bottom of the canister.

PERFORMANCE

• Show the black die in the canister.
• Cap the canister.
• Gently shake the black die so it hits the against the top.
• It will stick due to magnets and seem to change into mini dice.
• Remove the cap and place it face down on the table.
• Dump out the mini dice.

RESET: After your performance reload the mini dice back into the black die and you are ready to perform again.

IMPORTANT POINTS: When shaking the black die to make the mini dice appear do it very gently. You want it to hit the top as flat as possible so it sticks.

Magician’s Close Up Pad

COST: $9.99

EFFECT: This isn’t a trick, this is a working surface to perform your tricks on. The close up pad here looks great and feels great, yet it is very thin. It isn’t for professional work yet it is great for a beginner magician to present his/her tricks on.

Will These Tricks Fool Your Spectators

Yes, 100%. These are all strong tricks and if done well, you will definitely fool your audience. Plus these tricks are fun to watch, even if your spectator guesses the secret.

You can also have a lot of fun learning and playing with these tricks with your kids. If you check out the YouTube video above you will see that my daughter Ariel and I had a great time with these tricks.

Best Age For These Tricks

I believe that every one of these tricks is perfect for all ages 5 and up, if done well. This means, whatever age you are doesn’t matter, YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE. You have to take the time to learn and practice the trick until you have it down. Most tricks here will take under 5 minutes. Generally kids don’t practice and the trick comes off as a silly one, yet it isn’t.

How To Practice

Sit down with the trick and do it a few times, to yourself. Be familiar with the props and what step comes next. I always make a document on my computer. Nothing fancy, just a step by step breakdown. I find writing it out helps me to learn the trick and I always feel more comfortable when I am prepared. I like to know the exact steps I will take so there is no fumbling.

Magician Kits

I haven’t considered any magician kits yet it seems like a fun project. I mean, playing with tons of cool tricks, AWESOME!

I prefer buying individual tricks. I know what I like and I know what tricks are good. Sometimes there are good tricks in a kit, yet there is always a ton of stuff. For me it is too overwhelming. I believe in getting a trick, working on it, mastering it, and then getting a new trick. This is the way to become a magician.

PRO TIPS: My daughter is 5 and had a great time with these tricks (see YouTube video above). I also performed them for my friend Kelly, who is in her 30s, and she liked them too. These tricks are perfect for anyone who wants to do some great magic tricks.