Magic Rope Tricks for Kids

Function

• A magic rope trick involves appearing to perform impossible feats with a simple and ordinary length of rope. Generally, the magician gives the rope to a volunteer member of the audience to inspect and confirm that there is nothing unusual about the rope. Most rope tricks require the rope to be about 3 feet long.

Knot Impossible Trick

• To do the Knot Impossible trick, the magician asks for a member of the audience to volunteer. The volunteer can examine the rope lying on the table. The magician then asks the volunteer to tie the rope in a knot, but once she grabs onto the rope, she cannot let go. The volunteer will struggle for a bit and realize that it is nearly impossible to do without letting go. The magician then demonstrates that it is "knot impossible" to do it. The magician should cross his arms and grab each end of the rope. In the act of uncrossing his arms, the rope ends will pull through and form a knot.

Cut and Restore Trick

• Nothing seems to defy logic more than seeing a piece of rope cut and then having the magician bring it back together, whole and uncut. The magician begins by showing the audience the rope. Then the magician doubles up the rope, then triples it. The audience watches the magician tie a knot (really a slippery cat-shank knot) on each end of the rope. The magician then cuts the rope with scissors. Then with a flourish, he unravels the rope to reveal a whole rope. The trick is to hold the rope so the small knotted end is what gets cut. As the rope is unraveled, the magician slides the now-cut knot into his hands, hiding it with his palms and discarding it without being noticed.

Jumping Hanger Trick

• The audience watches the magician hold a rope with three knots in it and a hanger tied to one of the end knots. The magician tells the audience to watch closely and the hanger will move from the end to the center. With a flourish, the hanger appears to move from the end to the center. This trick is done by actually having four knots and revealing only three. The first knot is a slip knot, the second is normal, the third is normal with the hanger on it, and the fourth knot is normal but hidden in the magician's hand. When the flourish is given, the magician pulls on the rope, which unties the slip knot. He then moves his hands over so the previously hidden fourth knot is now revealed, and the hanger appears to have jumped to the center knot.

Specialty Ropes

• There are several specialty ropes that come in basic magic sets or can be purchased at joke or magic shops. Kids can incorporate them into a magic act. Some ropes have inner components that lock in place, making the rope stiff. With a touch, they can be made limp again. Some ropes allow the magician to change color using thin colored sleeves. Still others work with jointed rings that appear to pass through the rope without breaking. Rope tricks are some of the easiest tricks for kids to learn, whether the child uses standard rope or specialty magic rope accessories.