Would a 7-year-old child understand that magic isn't real?

Many adults don’t understand that magic isn’t real…

I really dont think one can apply a number to something like this. I for instance saw at a very young age that magic was just illusions. I believe this though is attributed to the fact that I used to be very interested in magic and learning how to do it. So I understood what was going on. That said, there are many much older who still dont see that these things are just simple illusions slight of hand and all that jazz

Oh, I think so. At least, I think they can. I was concerned about this when my children were small, age 3 or 4. So when we watched Sesame Street and other shows together, I often asked them questions like “Which of those are real people and which are make-believe?” “Do you think Big Bird is real?” “Could that really happen? Could someone really do what that character just did?”

We often said things like “That’s not really a <whatever.> That’s just a guy in a <whatever> costume.” (As a side note, I was also careful to make sure they knew how to recognize a bad guy: a real bad guy isn’t somebody in a bad guy suit. You can tell a real bad person by what he or she does. If someone takes your bike and tells you to get in their car or they won’t give it back, that’s a bad guy.)

I found that my young children were seldom actually confused about what was real. They could get thoroughly into the spirit of make-believe, but they knew that the laws of the world they lived in were somehow suspended in fantasy places like storybooks and TV shows. I was happy for them to enjoy pretending, and I pretended right along with them, but I wanted to know they could exercise their powers of discrimination as well.

I remember reading in several places that many adults were unclear about the reality of what they saw in entertainment media. One actor who played a villain on TV was frequently treated as a criminal when he was seen in public. This baffles me, but I think it’s an important fact to remember in a time when most people get their view of the world from audiovisual media.

Well, it depends. What sort of magic?

My daughter was 17 and a junior in college before the Christmas magic myth finally exploded for her. She knew there wasn’t a santa, but she couldn’t figure out how the gifts got under the tree. Her sister figured it out at age 9 but never bothered to tell her. It was her boyfriend who told her; I had explained it to him. It was far more elaborate than waking up and finding gifts from Santa.

I’m asking for the lowest possible age in which the child has enough cognitive capability to distinguish thought from reality. In the second question, I wonder when a child is able to distinctly remember separation enough to get angry about it, that they grow up angry or detached.

So—in the cases I observed up close, I’d say age 3. But they need help learning to do it.

Sure they can—but why would you try to make sure they do? Unless they’re somehow harming themselves or others, what’s wrong with them thinking magic’s out there? They’ll find out on their own soon enough. But the magic is what makes being a kid so much fun. It’s what lets imagination explore and expand in creative and exciting ways.
My dad made sure I believed in only logic and what was “really there”, and what wound up happening is now I’m in therapy because I just took what everyone around me said as true rather than trying to, or being able to, figure it out for myself.
Magic’s a natural part of a child’s development. If they on their own find out there is no Santa, and you’re switching their tooth for a coin, fine. But what’s the harm until then? Enjoy the fantasies with them.

And they can get hurt and angry at a very young age, but not understand it. “Scarring” all depends on them and how they handle or are taught to handle emotional issues. It really all depends on the child. If you’re worried, watch them, and try to help them without being overbearing.

It depends on the child, but my eldest was able to distinguish between real and made-up from 3 years old

@DancingMind I’m writing fiction, so I want to make sure I get the realistic age.

@longtresses
Oh! Wow then I’m way off haha… guess I read my own life into the question… sorry!

@DancingMind No, it’s great to hear from everyone! :) The more perspectives, the better. I just want this kid in my story to be strongly affected by the separation of her guardians, but I don’t know how old she should be. She’s also smart enough to tell magic from reality.

@longtresses Ok then : )
Then, if this helps more, from what I understand about development (mind you I’m still “developing” myself, not sure if that’s good or bad though in giving this advice) it’ll affect them at any age (so long as they understood that mommy and daddy were together) just in different ways, and varying levels of consciousness? But specifically I don’t know what age…

And it’s the arguing that’s the hard more than anything

Maybe since you’re getting into the psychology, glance over a few development theories and see what age will get the reaction you’re wanting?
Wiki on Child Development

Hope that’s more the help you were looking for! Haha

Both my kids were very young. 3 or 4. We bought the oldest a magic show kit when he was about 5 or 6 so he had a good idea about illusions.

On the other hand, my eldest was 4½ when I pointed out a satellite making a pass across the night sky and explained how radio signals are received by the satellite and are retransmitted back to earth so we can communicate long distances. He believed it – and we all know that is truly magic. ;-)

I would beg to differ on your opinion that “magic isn’t real”. If the power of suggestion is real and if illusion is real, if strenght based treatments and things such as the miracle question in traditional therapies have real beneficial effect than “magic” is real. Logic makes it so. People who perform magic are real. Shamans are real. Magicians are real. Batman and Santa claus are not real but the telling of their myth produces knowledge of specific archetypes in the world and these plus other universal stories form in part who we strive to become. These are real effects.
If your question is “at what age do children realize fantasy” then very early…as soon as they can understand the concept of peek a boo. The actual emotion of resentment is a complex emotion. It demands a range of experiences across time that a young child would not have had. Young children develop attachment disorders instead and often shut down around certain complex issues that cause them distress.

They do if they live with people who can tell the difference. My grandson has been pretending ever since he as two years old, and they can begin to see that a picture is not the actual object around one year old. When they see cartoon characters on TV use magic, they usually understand it is fake.

The minimum age is actually hard to tell since the very young cannot really communicate what they do/don’t know. Suffice it to say, it is entirely possible for a child to understand that before they develop linguistic fluency.

Intelligence also plays a role, as do sanity and upbringing. I mean, the dull-witted may take longer to figure things out while the certifiably delusional won’t and those raised in certain cultures/religions will have the belief in magic regardless.

Many would, yes. But many also love childhood magic. Playing is key to the development of children as a preparation to deal with reality. Over time smart kids learn to switch between magic and reality.

Depriving children of magic can actually be counterproductive, I think. As they grow older they might actually want to flee reality when it’s not appropriate anymore. And some might even reject critical thinking.

Kids look in the sky and know it goes on forever. They know that’s impossible, yet it is.

Many adults just assume “Oh, scientists have explained that”, then they brush it off without even thinking. If they did take the time to think about it, it would confuse or scare them. Many of them anyway. It reminds them of their looming death.

So, kids know something is up. Maybe “magic” isn’t the right word, but kids still haven’t been brainwashed into thinking everything is logical and consistent.

Kids believe in Santa’s existence. Adults believe in Republicans’ or Democrats’ expertise. Which belief is actually more immature?

I was around 11, though, when I stopped believing in“magic’ in the way I think you mean the word.

@Kraigmo I was about that age when I stopped believing in Republicans and Democrats!