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The art of magic has been entertaining kids and adults for centuries, from the early days of sideshows and Harry Houdini’s mastery of escape, to Criss Angel’s mind-bending, illusion-packed, TV performances. Watching magicians has always inspired fans to figure out the secrets behind the performances, and prompted them to try their own skills at entertaining family and friends with tricks, illusions, and sleight of hand. Offering more than just a deck of cards, a wand, or a few handkerchiefs, magic kits provide a whole host of items that allow kids and adults to master tricks to delight their own audiences.
Magic kits contain a variety of items for numerous tricks, disappearing acts, and illusions. There are many kits available; you can find kits suitable for everyone from youngsters to adults, and from novices to those who are ready to tackle a new level of trickery. Matching the appropriate kit to the age, interests, and skill level of a budding magician will lead to hours of fun.
BestReviews can help you find the perfect magic kit, from beginner to advanced, as we have evaluated contents and quality of some of the top choices available — so you don’t have to. Our favorite is the National Geographic Mega Magic Set, which offers more than 75 tricks for kids to amaze their family and friends with.
Editors’ Favorite
Age range: 8 and up | Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate | Types of Props: Coins, cards, dice, wand, handkerchief, optical illusions | Number of Magic Tricks: 75 + | Type of Instructions: Video
If you are looking for a magic kit that’s fun for kids and adults, the National Geographic Mega Magic Set won’t disappoint. The features and design of this kit have earned it the Toy of the Year Award by the Toy Association. Made for ages 8 and older, it’s packed with cool props for conducting numerous intriguing tricks, including coins, a wand, dice, cards and a handkerchief.
There are more than 75 tricks that can be completed with this comprehensive kit. Variations to many of the tricks adds to the excitement, especially for youngsters (and the young at heart) who want to put on a magic show.
Designed for both beginners and intermediate magicians, the tricks in this kit are straightforward to learn thanks to the clear video instructions. Users will be able to follow a link to access information to successfully do the tricks. Additionally, a pro magician offers tips for performing crowd-pleasing magic. An instructional booklet is also included.
Great Value
Age Range: 8 years and up | Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate | Types of Props: Wand, cotton gloves, cups, beaker, pipette, coins, scientific materials | Number of magic tricks: 10 | Type of Instructions: Illustrated guide
The National Geographic Magic Chemistry Set differs from many competitors by focusing on the magic of science with its 10 exciting tricks. Each trick centers around scientific reactions that are quite magical to complete. An included instructional guide is easy to follow and informative, making this kit suitable for kids ages 8 and up.
Within this kit are props that are essential to conducting the scientific experiments, such as a beaker, cups, pipette, scientific materials and more. A wand adds the feel of doing magic tricks with a STEM twist. Kids who play with this kit will not only be entertained but will learn about science in the process.
We picked this magic kit as our best bang for the buck because of its low price and ample features. A recipient of the Toy Association Toy of the Year Award, it’s a fun pick that won’t break the bank yet will provide hours of educational and magical entertainment.
Best Magic Potion Kit
Age range: 8 years and up | Skill level: Beginner to intermediate | Types of props: Vials, corks, wand, funnel, measuring sticks, labels, potion ingredients | Number of magic tricks: 12 | Type instructions: Recipe/instructional guide
Inspired by magical potions, the Dan&Darci Fairy Magic Potion Kit allows users to complete unique crafts. In addition to vials, it comes with everything needed to create pretty potions with crystals, glitter, colored powders, confetti, sequins and more. Once created, the vials can be corked, labeled and put on display.
This kit is easy to use, as it comes with a guide with potion recipes and instructions. It’s designed for ages 8 and up and is a fun activity for family night. The price is low, too, which is another selling point that parents appreciate.
More than just a magic kit, this option allows kids to explore their creativity. It’s also easy to clean up after use and comes with a box that can be reused for storage.
Performing magic tricks can provide hours of fun for both kids and adults who are young at heart. Magic kit manufacturers take the age of their potential consumers into consideration when designing the included items. They also target a level of difficulty of pulling off various magical acts. Kits that are designed for smaller children include simpler items, such as crayons, easy to maneuver “disappearing boxes,” and puzzles, and are designed with animated characters and attention-grabbing colors and graphics. Magic kits that are geared to teens and adults have much more intricate items, and their designs tend to be more serious, creating a more mysterious atmosphere than the whimsical, light-hearted feel of kits for youngsters.
It’s also important to select a magic kit that is appropriate for the skill level of the magician that will be doing the tricks and activities. As your magician gains experience, she may want more challenging tricks to attempt. A kit that is indicated for an absolute beginner will typically be referred to as a “first magic kit,” which is an ideal starting point. Kits with more advanced illusions should be labeled appropriately, and offer tricks such as levitation, psychic predictions, disappearing acts, and much more. Designers of these kits probably assume the buyer has some experience with magic already.
Some aspiring magicians may love the idea of having hundreds of tricks up their sleeves, while others may want to focus on perfecting just a few specific illusions. Magic kits offer an almost endless choice when it comes to the number of tricks included. Some advanced kits have over 400 tricks and illusions, while those for younger children tend to have as few as 20. A magician’s age, skill level, and attention span should be taken into consideration when deciding on the appropriate number of tricks per kit.
There are numerous types of magic kits on the market today, including some inspired by famous magicians. Some types you may want to consider are:
Card trick kits: From popular card tricks that have stood the test of time, to those that are new but just as entertaining, magic kits that focus on card tricks are very popular. Some may require specialty decks of cards that you have to purchase separately to make the most of the tricks.
Classic tricks: When some people think of magic, top hats, rabbits, and magic wands come to mind. Some magic kids feature these traditional items - stuffed rabbits, of course - and instructions for performing classic illusions to go along with them.
Professional-level kits: Magic kits also come in varieties that are geared to magicians who are ready to explore more challenging tricks. Some of these kits are inspired by top magicians, such as Criss Angel and Jim Stott.
Educational magic: Magic can be just as educational as it is fun and entertaining, and there are kits available that aim to teach, such as those geared towards science. Social interaction, motor skills, confidence, and manual dexterity can also be learned from performing magic tricks.
Performing magic doesn’t have to be costly. In fact, the family fun and engagement that a magic kit provides is quite affordable. Though larger, more advanced kits are costlier than basic kits, there are also options available that are less than $20, with all the materials and tricks to keep kids and adults engaged and entertained for hours.
Q. I have a young child who is very interested in magic. What are the best types of tricks for the youngest aspiring magicians?
A. While there are no specific tricks that are best for youngsters, those with basic items are most suitable for the youngest magic enthusiasts. Kits geared to toddler-aged children have colorful items that are easy to use, so kids can learn simple vanishing effects, for example.
Q. Do magic kits provide detailed information for individuals who aren’t sure how to get started?
A. Most kits comes with detailed information, which includes either written instructions, website access, or instructional videos.
Q. Beyond just entertainment, what are some of the benefits kids might gain from playing with magic kits?
A. As children master various tricks and illusions, they are sure to develop a sense of achievement. Shy children are likely to feel less frightened of speaking or interacting with others after receiving positive feedback from their performances. And when two or more kids work on perfecting magic tricks, they learn the importance of teamwork.
Magic kits are all about fun, experimentation and creativity for different ages, so we took that into consideration when we analyzed 30 kits in our quest to find the best. As we narrowed them down, we considered the age range and skill level needed to conduct the included tricks. We took note of the props as well as the approximate number of tricks that can be performed in each kit. Because instructions are important when it comes to using a magic kit, we noted that most include written, online or video information. Our research also included reviewing customer feedback and alerting our readers about the prices they can expect to pay when purchasing a magic kit.
