Learning magic tricks can help self-esteem of

kids with ADHD

by Shannon Thomason
October 05, 2021

Teaching magic tricks to children with disabilities can enhance their feelings of self-
esteem and confidence, a study has shown.

The study, published in Health Psychology Research, is a collaboration between

the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Institute for Arts in Medicine, the School of
Health Professions’ Department of Occupational Therapy and illusionist and educator
Kevin Spencer. It shows the effectiveness of a virtual summer magic camp program in
enhancing self-esteem in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder. Children with ADHD can experience low self-esteem. 

Learning and performing magic tricks can benefit children and adults with disabilities.
The approach promotes motivation and improves physical, psychological, perceptual or
social functions in those who participate and has been shown to be an effective
treatment technique. Magic trick programs have also been reported to enhance the self-
esteem of children with severe emotional disturbances, and those with a diverse range
of developmental disabilities such as communication difficulties, learning difficulties,
(emotional) behavioral disorders, autism and ADHD. 

The single-group study at UAB included six children with ADHD, ages 8-14, who
participated in a virtual magic camp program designed for children with disabilities. The
camp met three days a week, in sessions from 45 minutes to one hour, over four
consecutive weeks, for a total of nine to 12 hours. Participants completed assessments
before and after camp, and they and their parents were individually interviewed after
camp to explore their camp experience.

Self-esteem scores after the magic camp were significantly higher than the self-esteem
scores before camp. Findings were validated by the participants, who described gains in
self-esteem after participating in the magic camp, and by the parents’ statements
regarding the positive impact on their child’s psychological well-being. 

ADHD is a common child and adolescent neurodevelopmental disorder. It is

characterized by problems with attention skills, staying on task or being organized, and
affects academic performance in school and daily activities. In addition to inattention
and/or hyperactivity, children and adolescents with ADHD report psychological well-
being difficulties such as low self-esteem. Considering their frequent challenges and
failures in school, and adverse social feedback they encounter, these experiences may
contribute to their low self-esteem. 

Joshua performs magic during a UAB Arts in Medicine virtual Magic Camp

Research on ADHD shows self-esteem problems can lead to maladaptive coping

strategies, such as anxiety and depression, substance use and deviant peer
choices, and disruptive behaviors such as bullying and peer victimization, the study
says. 

Psychosocial interventions have been recommended to help children and adolescents

with ADHD cope with difficulties and failures in school and everyday life and increase
self-esteem.

Future studies should investigate the holistic impact of magic camps on children and
adolescents with ADHD and include measures that tap into other psychosocial
attributes, such as social functioning, social skills and self-efficacy, the study authors
say.

UAB Magic Camp, which is held each summer, is part of a collaboration between UAB
Arts in Medicine, the UAB School of Health Professions’ Department of Occupational
Therapy, Children’s of Alabama and Hocus Focus™. UAB occupational therapy
students are trained in the protocol developed by illusionist and educator Kevin Spencer
— an international authority on the therapeutic use of magic tricks in physical and
psycho-social rehabilitation — and provide instruction to the campers.

Each camper is paired with two OT students for the duration of the three-week summer
camp. Through this pairing, campers work at their own speed and have a personalized
learning experience. The end of each camp will feature a streamed magic show
performance for friends and family. Camp is free and open to children ages 9-18 who
have been diagnosed with a disability. The virtual camp welcomes participants from all
over the United States and internationally.