Learning magic makes vulnerable children grow

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT IS OUR AIM?

Magic Care was founded in 2005 by a group of 4 experienced Dutch magicians, specialized in magic for children. By teaching magic to children with some sort of handicap, they aim to support those children. Magic is the vehicle to help children in finding their way in life, so that they become (mentally) stronger, which gives them more self-confidence. In other words: magic is used as a therapy for children who by any cause have developed a gap in their psycho-social development or are hospitalized.

THE MAGICIANS OF MAGIC CARE

The founders of Magic Care have all much experience in regular magic shows for children. Moreover, they all have specific backgrounds which are important for teaching magic as therapy for children. Rob van de Kamp has given magic workshops to children of prisoners in the USA. Igor de Kort teaches magic (as clown) to children of the favelas in Brazil.

Marlies Greve has a practice as a play therapist, for which she also applies magic. Wim van Dokkum is a nutritionist/food scientist (and Visiting Professor in Brazil) who always uses magic during his lectures as a means for getting messages across.

Since 2010 not less than 25 experienced and well known Dutch magicians joined the Magic Care Foundation. Moreover, and as a consequence of this, new teams were formed, including those working in hospitals for seriously ill children.

Magic Care is linked to the Dutch Magic Society (NMU), the umbrella organisation of all registered magicians in the Netherlands. The NMU is linked to FISM (International Federation of Magic Societies).

THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT

Through learning magic, the children develop skills to become more self-confident; they learn things that other children do not master. Apart from the technical aspects of learning a trick, the children learn to express themselves better. Magic stimulates creativity and improves social skills, it can improve the locomotion and the perseverance. Magic can also improve their mental health, and by playing a (magic) role, the children can escape from their handicap.

THE WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

The programme of the workshop aims at stimulating both the technical, creative and social skills of the children. The tricks we teach are specially chosen for this aim. The technical part of a trick stimulates coordination and technical skills, which is good for the feeling of self-confidence. The creative part of a trick stimulates to look in another way to the real world which may improve problem-solving skills.

WORKSHOP FOR WICH CHILDREN?

Generally, Magic Care may give workshops for groups of (20-40) children and ages from approximately 8 till 12-15 years of age. The children preferably are from one foundation/institution and we offer a unique, once-only half a day workshop that we organize in close cooperation with the foundation or institution. All children receive the (professional) tricks, including a clear description of the technical working and the instructions for a “magic” presentation. The magic programme for children in hospitals has a more individual, one-to-one approach at the bedside of the children.

THE MAGIC CARE BOARD

  •  Marlies Greve / President – marlies@magiccare.nl
  • Rob van de Kamp / Vice-president – rob@magiccare.nl
  • Prof. Dr. Wim van Dokkum / Secretary and Public Relations – wim@magiccare.nl
  • Dr. Igor de Kort / Treasurer – igor@magiccare.nl
  • Wil Hendriks / Supporting member, coordinator hospitals, newsletters – wil@magiccare.nl
  • Rody Boon / Co-founder – rodymagiccare.nl

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