Q. Magic seems like a difficult thing to learn. How can someone with no experience succeed?
A. While much magic requires sleight of hand and skill, many other tricks are extremely easy and require no skill. It's a matter of knowing which ones to choose. Checkout my list of "Most Recommended Tricks." The four tricks shown on this website are perfect examples of High Quality/No Skill.
Q. How do I respond when a child asks me "How did you do that trick?"
A. Generally speaking, sharing secrets to magic is not appropriate. A significant part of the fun depends on safeguarding the mystery. It is often a good idea to establish your "policy" about secret sharing in advance. "Now I'm going to show you that trick I promised. Please keep in mind that when I show you magic, I can't give away all of the secrets because that would spoil the fun."
Q. How do I use magic in the classroom or in small groups?
A. I use magic to shape good group behavior. At the beginning of a session I announce the possibility of doing some magic at the end of the session, providing that the group behavior is satisfactory (i.e. respect, listening, cooperation, etc.). Much positive peer pressure has resulted from this. Magic can also generate interaction and teamwork.