In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Kevin Spencer discuss the innovative use of magic tricks as therapy for children with autism. Kevin found that teaching magic helped children with autism improve social skills, communication, and self-esteem. He developed the Hocus Focus program for schools and the Magic Therapy program for hospitals, both using simple magic tricks with common items. Kevin's research showed significant improvements in social skills and self-esteem using the Social Skills Improvement Scale (SSIS) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). He also successfully adapted his therapy to virtual formats during the pandemic.
Key Takeaways:
One of the most significant deficits of traditional social skills programs in the schools is that they try to teach social skills explicitly, through this very didactic structure, but none of that is transferred over to a real-world setting.
Doug Henning's formula for magic works well with kids on the spectrum, and really, everyone: The difficult must become habit. Habit becomes beautiful. Beautiful becomes magic.
Magic gives kids an avenue to practice social interactions and other social skills that become broadly applicable to other areas of life. In classroom settings, it gives kids a chance to practice both performing and being an audience.
Teachers and parents often see the changes before the child does, as the kids are so engaged in the learning and sharing with their friends.
There are no expectations that you know how to do magic (unlike other behaviors). It allows for failure to be part of the process, which builds frustration tolerance, persistence, critical thinking, and resilience.
"All of the tricks that we teach are done with very ordinary items. It's coins and Q-tips and string and rope and paper clips and rubber bands, because we want them to recognize that the magic is connected to them. It's not connected to a prop." — Dr. Kevin Spencer
Episode References:
TDF: https://www.tdf.org/
Connect with Dr. Kevin Spencer:
Professional Bio: https://kevinspencerlive.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencersmagic
Website: https://www.spencersmagic.com/
Books: https://www.kevinspencerlive.com/books
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/spencersmagic
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/spencersmagic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwspencer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicguy2012
Connect with Therese:
Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net
Bluesky:@CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social
Instagram: @Criticallyspeakingpodcast
Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net
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