Printable Magic Tricks for Kids

Performing magic is a way for a child to gain confidence, practice problem-solving and develop his creativity. Many magic tricks require just a few common household items. The range of difficulty varies from easy beginning tricks to more complex tricks for the seasoned magician. Ensure the child is supervised when practicing and performing magic.

This trick requires a bottle of water and a ketchup packet. Before performing, make sure the packet of ketchup floats by placing it in a cup of water. Then fold the ketchup packet in half and push it into a filled water bottle, leaving about an inch of air at the top. Replace the cap. To perform the trick, hold the bottom of the bottle in the palm of one hand and squeeze to make the ketchup packet move to the bottom. Release your hand and it will float back to the top. Use the opposite hand to "direct" the ketchup packet up or down. Print this trick at activitytv.com.

Amaze others by making an egg magically balance on its end. You need an egg, some salt and a handkerchief. Before performing, place a small pile of salt on the table and place the handkerchief over it. By placing the egg into the secret salt pile, it will magically stand up on its own. Print specific directions at activitytv.com.

Create a banana that has already been sliced into sections without taking the peel off. Before performing, a needle and thread must carefully be inserted into a banana and pulled to slice it under the skin in three different places. This trick takes some practice and will require the help of an adult to thread the needle and supervise pushing the needle through the banana peel. Specific instructions can be printed at activitytv.com.

Make a coin magically disappear with this trick. Supplies include one sheet of colored construction paper, a clear glass, a coin and a handkerchief. The secret is to cut a circle out of the center of the construction paper and tape it to the bottom of the glass. While under the handkerchief, move the glass over the coin. When revealed, the coin will be hidden under the glass. Specific instructions can be printed at kidzone.ws.

This trick requires 21 playing cards. They must be lined up in three columns, each containing seven cards. An audience volunteer then selects a card in his head and tells what column it is in. The magician asks the volunteer two more times where the card is, and on the third try he tells the volunteer which card she was thinking of and where it is. Specific instructions can be printed at kidzone.ws.