Have you ever considered using magic tricks as a part of your occupational therapy program? For Magician Kevin Spencer, it wasn’t until a serious car accident that he realized magic could be more than just a way to entertain others. After his accident, he spent a year in physical and occupational therapy. According to Spencer, “From a patient’s perspective, therapy was a long, boring and frustrating process for me. I thought, ‘There has to be a better way to do this – or at least a more engaging way to do it.’ ”
It was during his therapy that he realized the same fine motor skills required to put a peg in a round hole are the same skills required for a simple magic trick. “It’s about planning and sequencing steps, it’s about directionality, it’s about fine motor dexterity, following simple directions, organizing tasks and movement,” Spencer said. The only difference is that magic can be much more fun for the patient than playing with pegs. Both younger and older patients can benefit from using magic in therapy. “Magic tricks aren’t meant to replace traditional forms of therapy, but it gives therapists another tool in their toolbox to choose from” Spencer said.
Read the full article about Kevin Spencer’s magic with a purpose here.
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