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I have only been doing magic for about 3months and i was doing some things for my moms friend becouse she wanted to see an she asked me if i would come do some tricks for her child and friends that is turning 6
most of the things like cup and balls alot of silk tricks and about a dozen card tricks i have pretty well masterd besides all the self workin things but i need some advice if i should do it or not

It'unlikely that you'll be able to keep kids entertained with your current style of effects, I'm no expert here but I'm sure someone else will tell you why.

As to 'should' you do it, you're the best judge of that one I'm afraid. It could be valuable performing experience or it could be a waste of time as you'll spend most of it trying to control a bunch of kids that don't care where their card is.

tricky one this its a bit like saying i can drive a car and know how to put on a crash helmet, now my friend wan't me to go do ralying.

we need to know how many kids, there age ranges, how long they want you and wether you will have a slot in the party or you just mingle and entertain.

also we wi'll need to know if you have any experience with coin sleights, sponges, do you have time to make up some props just for starters.

It depends what they're expecting... could I ask how old you are? From your post I would guess that you're not that old.

When I was younger I used to love Punch and Judy, so much that I got a set of puppets and a hang-up stage thing for Christmas. I performed for our next door neighbour's kid's party as well as at a couple of other places - I got a chocolate orange and a free lunch in payment!

If she understands that you're not a professional or even really a serious amateur at 3 months practicing (which she probably does if you're below 17 years of age) I don't see the harm in it - it's "the boy next door showing us some tricks". As long as they know what the deal is, and they're not going to be angry with you if it's a bit chaotic! But you should make sure that she is not relying on you as the only form of entertainment, or expecting you to perform for hours on end.

Also - kids don't like card tricks, so you won't be able to do any of those.

Kids, specifically younger kids, are possibly the worst target audience (except for drunken crowds).

They have a very short concentration span, and unless they are captivated with what you are doing, any subtelty or finesse is irrelevant.

Concentrate on large, visual, even humourous magic. Anything colourful which makes you a bit of a clown helps.

some make at home gear:-

flapper board's... bird flys from one picture to an empty cage on the second.
square circle / tubes of alla... candy from empty tubes.
cone of cornucopia... card rolled into cone produces sweets.
victory cartons... make two flat pack cartons up and produce assistant from them.
red lorry /yellow lorry... fun banter around a colour changing lorry in an envelop.
afgan bands.... three bands are cut lengthwise, 1st becomes two rings, second becomes one larger ring and third becomes a set of linked rings.

most inspired by mark wilson's complete course in magic.

I've agreed to do one in June too, for 9-10 year olds and have a feeling I'll be a bit like the Punch & Judy man in Hi-De-Hi.
I do some illusions, mentalism and card tricks but have got some ideas that I will be adding. I think cards are definitley out, except maybe 'Card In Orange' which may appeal to kiddies.
I think a pair of d-lites will go down a treat. If a kid is having lights pulled out of their ears etc, I'm sure that's the sort of thing that will provoke laughter with 'em.
Colour changing silks, sweets from dove pan, IT and a bit of flash paper are on the agenda too.

That age would absolutley stage a revolution if they had to sit through a dozen card tricks........stick to silks, cups and balls, gag magic, very visual type of stuff......cards don't make a lot of sense to them...

Kids, specifically younger kids, are possibly the worst target audience (except for drunken crowds).

Give me a drunken crowd anyday!

I think that Childrens magic is one of the most under estimated forms of our art. Personally, I stay WELL CLEAR!

I got in to performing publicly through doing a turn for my grand daughters birthday. I learned a lot and nobody minded the odd gaff as they were not expecting too much.

Last Xmas I did three shows on the bounce to 7/8 year olds and they went well.

Keep it simple, short and if possible spectacular.

To a 7 year on vanishing a silk is spectacular. Change bag routines where things appear out of an empty bag are spectacular. A Foo can routing combines the mystery of disappearance, reappearance with a magical colour change and the danger that the liquid will pour out over someone.

For adult conmsumptioon I major with cards. I couldn't imagine doing anything in this line for kids.

Oh and get them involved from the first trick. You need the magic words for them to shout out. And finally ( what a badly structured response this is) give them something with a flash. I used my solitary finger flasher and my niece to relaod it

My girlfriend helps out with a local Brownie troup and they have asked me to go and do 10 minute act for them but quite frankly the idea scares the bejesus out of me. I think me and kids just dont mix well... I find it hard to do that upbeat voice that is required
Give me a drunk adult crowd anyday. Agreed that children magicians are underrated.

I'd say go for it. Sounds like it'll be a friendly, informal setting so you've not really got anything to loose and will be a brilliant learning experience.

How old are the kids? I've found that sponge balls go down really well with them as do silks and anything visual

Depends on the age of the kids really.

I have 21 nieces and nephews ranging from 2 - 15 and a couple above that. They all respond differently depending on their age

Younger kids are easily amused, as logn as you can keep them entertained. They can be kept entertained just by being silly. But they may not get the type of magic you perform. For younger kids things have to be bright, quick and visual to keep their attention. And your set cannot drag on too long.

Any kid over 10 im more likley to stamp on than entertain so I wont comment here but seriously, only you can judge your question but it highly depends on your ability to keep their attention long enough to do magic

Things I would use in this setting.....(or consider using)

Start with magic colouring book

Foam balls

Vanishing silks, salt, etc

Rope work (cut and restored, linking, etc)

Cards - Gag....have them select a card and show it around, while they
show it, do a deck switch for a jumbo or a mini....ask them to put it in and pretend to be unable to find it....they will get the impression that the remainder of the deck magically shrunk/grew

Dee-lites can work well

Vanshing card box

Magic paddle - not sure what the real name of it would be

Egg bag work

Depending on the control of the group, flash paper effects are very visual.

Just a few thoughts for you

if you get into kids shows two nice props worth investing in if you can get them are:-
sliding die box and milky die, which is like a foo can production device which is a great way to reproduce the die once its gone.