Believing in magic is something my husband and I have always maintained to be an important part of childhood. That is why we go out of our way to help our children believe in pixies, Santa Claus, elves, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny for as long as possible. When children believe in magic, I know that a small part of each of them wishes that they could do a little magic of their own. That is why I chose this Deluxe Magic Set from CP Toys for our children.
This wooden battery-free toy, recommended for children 8 years and older, was the perfect toy for our inquisitive 8-1/2 year old son. Even his curious 5-1/2 year old sister was enthralled with trying to figure out how some of the tricks worked. She was actually able to learn the secret of a few tricks all on her own, so I would say this toy would be engaging to any child 4 years or older who enjoys problem solving. Having said that, it takes an older child to perform the magic tricks smoothly. Even our 8-1/2 year old could still use more practice with mastering the art of illusion.
(Click any image to enlarge)
There are 10 tricks in all included in this set, but you could certain come up with your own using the tools provided. The tricks vary in difficulty, so not all will be understood by younger audiences, such as the ones involving numbers. There is an illustrated manual that shows how to perform each trick step-by-step.
My husband, who assisted me with making the demo video below, was very impressed with all these tricks. He did find that the Great Escape (pictured above) worked more smoothly for magicians with smaller hands. His favorite was the Money Maker, while our oldest son's favorite trick was the Secret Silks.
Below you will find a demonstration of several of the Deluxe Magic Set tricks . . .
I must say that it was wonderful to see the pleased look on our son's face when he was able to master a trick. He had so much fun performing for his little brother and sister. The only thing that could have made this magic set more perfect was for it to come with a top hat and cape.
The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set retails for $37.99. To learn more about this and other educational toys and playsets, visit www.cptoy.com.
Thank you to CP Toys for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our contest prize.
A NOTE TO 3G2S READERS: As an effort to give back a little, I will be adding an extra optional entry in some of my giveaways to "Like" the Facebook page of various small businesses that I have identified as needing a little love.
Good luck in the drawing!
