Enthused vs. Excited

Although the verb enthuse and the participle enthused are quite well established in common usage, many traditionalists (a.k.a. the grammar police) still disapprove of its use. Consider avoiding it in formal writing or when writing for an audience that might share this attitude.

enthused children watched the illusionist’s show
excited/enthusiastic children watched the illusionists’s show

The use of enthused as a participial adjective, as in the example above, is particularly frowned on because the existing adjectives enthusiastic and excited already serve the same purpose.

children enthused over the illusionists’s tricks
children expressed enthusiasm about the illusionists’s tricks (or “gushed over the tricks,” “were delighted by the tricks,” etc.)