Controlling Kids Part1: Preventing Elevation
By Danny Orleans - Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Controlling kids. It’s one of the biggest challenges for the kids show performer. One of problems we all have is preventing kids, who are sitting on the floor, from kneeling or standing up during the show. When they do this, it makes it hard for the children behind them to see and often creates a domino effect. Here’s how I solve that problem.
Kids elevate. They start out watching your show seated on the floor with their legs crossed in front of them. But during your show, don’t be surprised if they elevate; they sit on their knees, switch to a kneeling position or even stand up!
There are lots of good reasons why kids to this:
- You are doing something that excites them, so they elevate to see better.
- They are getting uncomfortable sitting “crisscross applesauce.” So they shift their position.
- The kid in front of them is kneeling, so they elevate in order to see the magic better.
- They really, really want to help, so when you ask for volunteers, they stand up!
The problem for you? If some kids begin to elevate, then others elevate in order to see or get your attention. The result is, everyone is kneeling or standing! This can lead to more problems (like kids rushing the stage. Yikes!)
Here’s what I do to counteract “elevation.”
As soon as I see a child switch to a kneeling position, I point to a child next to them and say, “I like the way you’re sitting, with your legs crossed in front of you so the person behind you can see.” Why do I address the kid next to them instead of the kid kneeling?
As a performer, I want to make positive statements about the kids. I want to compliment them when they do something right. I don’t want to be a disciplinarian constantly correcting their incorrect behavior with sentences like these:
“Stop talking. Be quiet.”
“Don’t kneel. Sit down flat.”
“Stay in your seat. Don’t scoot up. Move back.”
So, by complimenting the child who is doing the right thing, I get kids doing the wrong thing to imitate the kid doing the right thing. Make sense? This technique is called positive reinforcement. It’s an old Kindergarten teachers’ trick and it works incredibly well. It’s a perfect solution for the magician dealing with groups of young children. Hard to believe it really works?
Just repeat these (magic) words spoken to the child next to the kid kneeling.
“I like the way you’re sitting, with your legs crossed in front of you so the person behind you can see.”
Try it with your next group of 4, 5, 6 or 7 year-olds. You’ll be surprised. Really, truly, it works like magic.
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