Anyone have any tips or suggestions on magic to involve kids with? I do a lot of magic, but am finding it hard to come up with stuff for children to come up onto the stage and participate in.

Also, anyone give out any particulat memoires of a show (Apart from balloons?)

Change bags are great, you can have the kids pull out all sorts of stuff, one of our favorites is for kids to put popcorn seeds in the bag then rub their hands together, friction [with older kids you can drag it out by asking if they've learned about friction in science and how hot their hands get, then they quickly rub the bag and you help them produce fresh popped popcorn. silks are also good tricks kids can help with. The magic coloring book is good for kids to help with. Cylinders, any thing they can put some thing in and you produce something else, You can place a number of foam balls in to a child hands without him being aware as long as you hold them tight and have the child hold it tight and don't let him see how many your putting in their hands. Hope this helps

I have about half of the tricks I do in my show involve bringing up kids to help. Depending on the level of magic that you do there are many tricks you can use children assisitants.
Cut and restore rope trick is great with assistants I have an older kid hold the sizzors and a younger kid tie the knot, with both kids pulling on the rope before it is cut to show it is a strong rope and again after it is tied to show that the knot is strong.
A good ring routine can always be improved with an assistant.
If you want simple tricks try Bongo Hats, mizers dream. Any simple trick can be made funny if you keep handing a kid a nesting wand or other funny wands, all you have to do is have them wave the wand while you do the trick.
Looney Ballooney :lol:

I use sponge rabbits (A version of the sponge balls in the hand) and it works out great for younger kids AND adults.

As long as you are careful, and bold enough to put the rabits into the hand, it always gets a huge reaction.

The fact that they are little rabbits adds a LOT to the amazement of the younger crowd. You can also add s hinted adult inuendo for the adults and I have had NO complaints about it (Its not that obvious!)

Clown magic by David Ginn is loaded with great ideas. I'm revamping my show now and incorporating some of his ideas.
It is worth the read!

I tie two silks in a fake knot and then I have a showdown with the assistant: Their magic powers against mine. I try to pull it apart, and even have a big strong guy from the audience pull on one side and we can't pull it apart.

Finally the assistant takes the two silks, and I'm going on about how they will never be able to pull it apart. But it basically falls apart in their hands, which has me completely amazed/baffled/shocked! And I try it again! and finally a third time, each time saying that I will make a bigger stronger spell! But each time they win and I have to give in and admit that their powers are much greater than mine.

You just have to learn how to tie that know. It can be learned in a few minutes, and then practice it before doing the show, otherwise nobody wins, and you look pretty stupid, in the way that you don't want to.

I will probably eventually add on and ending to the end (where else can you put an ending..) that they get a "certificate of Magic" or something like that. It would have to be the birthday child if I did that. I got some nice little star trophies from Ikea today for $1 each (usually $4) which would probably make nice little awards/birthday presents.

When my camera has recharged I'll try to make a tutorial on that knot.