Honest Brothers
Magic camp “Magic Moves” for paralyzed children
The Ehrlich Brothers Andreas and Chris invite children with partial physical paralysis to their magic camp.
© ZDF/Christoph Koestlin
In “Magic Moves” magic meets medicine: The Ehrlich Brothers are testing magic as therapy for paralyzed children in a new format.
Do magic tricks help paralyzed children become more mobile again? That’s what they’re testing Ehrlich Brothers in collaboration with ZDF and the Munich University Hospital in the new format “Magic Moves”. The magician brothers invite ten children and young people who are affected by half-sided physical paralysis to their magic camp. Over the course of two weeks, they teach the young magicians magic tricks – with the question in the background as to whether this magical training can improve both the children’s mobility and motor skills.
Magic, friendships and self-confidence
The star magicians Andreas (46) and Chris Ehrlich (42) are supported by a specialized team of therapists. The training program for the children focuses on magic, courage and belief in themselves. The young participants should not only learn magic tricks, but also make friends and find more self-confidence. The finale at the end of the magic camp: a big joint magic performance with the Ehrlich Brothers in front of friends and family.
“Magic Moves” will air in the winter
“Magic Moves” is a joint project between ZDF and KiKa. The results from the filming will be incorporated into a scientific study. It is scientifically supported by a team of doctors from the children’s hospital at the LMU Clinic in Munich, the Schönklinik Vogtareuth and the Maulbronn Children’s Center. Filming is scheduled for July and broadcast is planned for winter 2024 – in four episodes of 45 minutes each for ZDF and eight episodes of 24 minutes each for KiKA.
Two out of 1,000 children in Germany suffer from so-called hemiparesis, caused by congenital or acquired brain damage. Previous scientific studies suggest that certain therapies can be used to “trick” the brain in order to activate new areas of the brain and thus improve the mobility and motor skills of affected children.