Everyday Object Tricks for Kids

1. Hold the pencil loosely between your thumb and first finger, about a third of the way from the end.
2. Let it dangle rather than gripping it tightly.
3. Shake your hand gently up and down at a steady, quick speed.
4. The loose ends of the pencil will lag behind the shaking motion, making it appear to wobble like rubber.

Practice tip: a slightly longer pencil and a loose wrist (not a loose grip) make the wobble look more dramatic.

1. Bend your right thumb at the knuckle and tuck it behind your first two fingers, hidden from view.
2. Bring your left thumb up next to it so the tip of your left thumb lines up exactly where your hidden right thumb would be.
3. From the front, it looks like one long thumb stretching across both hands.
4. Slide your left hand outward a little, “pulling” the thumb apart, then slide it back to “reattach” it.

Practice tip: keep your hands close to your chest, angled slightly toward your audience, and practice in a mirror until the seam disappears.

1. Loop the rubber band over your first and second fingers only, letting it rest at the base of your fingers.
2. Curl all four fingers into a loose fist, and while curling them in, secretly stretch the band with your other hand and hook it over all four fingertips.
3. Show your curled fist to the audience — from the outside, it looks completely ordinary.
4. Say the magic word and quickly flick your fingers straight out.
5. As your fingers open, the band snaps to loop around your third and fourth fingers instead.

Practice tip: the flick needs to be fast and confident — practice slowly at first, then build up speed once your fingers know the movement.