Have you ever considered using magic tricks as a part of your occupational therapy program? For Magician Kevin Spencer, it wasn’t until a serious car accident that he realized magic could be more than just a way to entertain others. After his accident, he spent a year in physical and occupational therapy. According to Spencer, “From a patient’s perspective, therapy was a long, boring and frustrating process for me. I thought, ‘There has to be a better way to do this – or at least a more engaging way to do it.’ ”
It was during his therapy that he realized the same fine motor skills required to put a peg in a round hole are the same skills required for a simple magic trick. “It’s about planning and sequencing steps, it’s about directionality, it’s about fine motor dexterity, following simple directions, organizing tasks and movement,” Spencer said. The only difference is that magic can be much more fun for the patient than playing with pegs. Both younger and older patients can benefit from using magic in therapy. “Magic tricks aren’t meant to replace traditional forms of therapy, but it gives therapists another tool in their toolbox to choose from” Spencer said.
Read the full article about Kevin Spencer’s magic with a purpose here.
Would you consider using magic as a part of your therapy program? Please let us know here or on Facebook!
Many years ago I was able to be a part of a magic therapy program presented by a local OTR from UCI and David Copperfield. He gave us each a bag of tricks and taught us how to use them. We practiced with them until we were proficient and then taught them to various patients. The teenage patients were especially thrilled to be able to do some magic that others could not do.
Several years ago I worked with Kevin when he presented a workshop in Key West, FL. It was a great success and lots of fun. I personally have had an interest in magic as I had attended other “magic therapy” workshops before and I lived in a small town in Michigan whose claim to fame is the “Magic Capital of the World”. I have used some of Kevin’s “magic” with both children and adults. So happy to see that Kevin is still out there spreading the word about the value of “magic” in rehabilitation.
I WOULD LOVE TO INCORPORATE MAGIC WITH MY PTS. HOWEVER I WORK IN HOME CARE MOSTLY WITH THE ELDERLY AND DONT KNOW HOW APPROPRIATE IT WOULD BE. I COULDNT GET THE VIDEO TO RUN ABOUT THE PAPERCLIPS AND DOLLAR BILL BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW ITS DONE. KEVIN, IF YOU THINK THIS MAGIC THERAPY WOULD HELP THE GERIATRIC POPULATION I WOULD LIKE MORE INFO AND DETAILS ABOUT IT. THANK YOU KINDLY, HEIDI HO SCHUSTER, OTR/L
Hi Heidi, thanks for the comment. We’re not able to directly forward your question to Kevin Spencer. You can try contacting him on his personal website here.
I’ve had the pleasure of learning Kevin Spencer’s Magic…. It was such a fresh an exciting idea. I haven’t been using it much lately, but I think I need to pull it back out of my “bag of tricks”.
Thank you again Kevin for coming to our Pediatric Rehab Center in Stuart Florida. If your ever in the area again please stop in to say hello! 🙂
Thanks!