5 Reasons why Learning Magic is as important as Coding

I know the importance of learning magic, having taught this performance art at schools and ad-hoc camps. As a parent and educator, I am consistently looking for activities for my 3 children while enlightening their young minds and comparing them with magic. Having experience coding myself when it wasn’t a trendy thing yet, I realised the benefits of helping me to think and put a lot of thoughts in order. (I learned “coding” using this programme called Turtle at this computer school called CAL. I joined the Computer club in secondary school. When there aren’t things like Dreamweaver, I typed out my own HTML site.).

Recent research puts coding at the forefront of future careers. After teaching magic for years in schools and workshops, I realised that magic has the same benefits and much more! Magic is more engaging for the younger age group. It forces the kids to be more active than passive and away from screens.

Here are 5 reasons why magic is important than coding for children

1) Performing Magic is helps in your language

Why? Children must learn how to explain instructions well to their audience in the shortest possible manner. For children who choose to perform ‘silent acts’ (magic without talking), that is a whole new language to portray to their spectator. The magician must mime his intended meaning to them without speaking.

A language teaches children how to communicate and teaches logical thinking. Language also strengthens both verbal and written skills.  When we used magic to teach Chinese, the parents are amazed at how fast and well their kids the language.

Case Study: One participants’ child refused to speak Chinese since he hated the language. After the 1st lesson, he was practising his magic totally in Chinese for 40min. Even his parents could not believe how this could have happened.

2) Magic fosters creativity.  

No single performance is the same. Initially, we may guide them by providing an example of the script. Very often, children will experiment and create their own presentations. In fact, the goal for term 1 of our magic lessons is to link 2 or more magic they learned into a performance.

By experimenting, children learn and strengthen their brains. Even when they watch their peers’ ideas, they learn. Creativity is such a big part of the magic, so much more than coding or even music.

3)  Learning Magic improves logical thinking

Children who learn how to perform magic understand how to plan and organize thoughts.  In our scripting exercises, they have to logically think through important steps on how to perform the magic as well as go through the thought process of the audience.

For example, is it a need to prove that this container is empty or is there another method to demonstrate it? What causes the magic to happen?

This ‘algorithm’ thinking can lead to developing empathy for children as well.

4) Magic helps children with Math and Science.

It is a known fact that magic makes use of science and math to create that sense of wonder. Magic helps children to be able to visualize abstract concepts, makes science as well as math fun and creative to learn.

5) Learning Magic helps children become confident problem solvers. 

As they learn how to perform magic, children will realise that there are many solutions to 1 problem. For instance, there are hundreds of ways to make things appear and appear. In the lessons, they are challenged to find a solution to a magic effect they want to create. Even if what they created didn’t work, it is all part of the learning process.  They can improve upon what they have already done without worrying about failing.

As part of the process, they build their confidence and resilience and grow up to become a better person.

Having children learn magic at a young age prepares them for the future.  Magic helps children with communication, creativity, Math, Science, writing, and values like resilience.