How to encourage your child to play chess

While there has been much written on the benefits of chess to all ages, children have the best results. Benjamin Franklin had high praises for the game and he wrote his Morals of Chess. You can see online chess tutor on our website.

Starting around age seven, chess was proven to improve concentration. It can also teach patience and teamwork.

Make Chessomnipresent

Teaching your child chess at an early age is the best way to get them to love it.

When I was young, my family was always surrounded by guitars. My aunts and uncles were avocational musicians as well as singers. They were role models for me. I naturally gravitated toward playing the guitar because it was easily accessible whenever I was passing. When I suddenly felt like trying out a new song, the guitar was right there. With every small success, guitar playing became enjoyable. The same learning approach can be applied to chess.

You can be a role model

Start by playing chess yourself with your child. It’s not as difficult as you may think. You can keep a working, chess-playing set in your living room so they are always available. At home, have books about chess and if you love chess, display chess-inspired artwork. You can encourage your child to get involved by supporting a chess club or educational curriculum at his or her school. Have chess parties, and invite family and friends to play chess at you home. Your children will love to play chess while on long vacations. Keep a set of travel chess pieces in your car. Make chess part of your daily routine.

Start by teaching your child simple forms of the game such as these. Your child will love reading and you will help him or her grow in understanding.

The Pawn Game

* Display the pawnchess pieces on your chessboard. Determine which player has the most pieces.
* Pawns advance one square at the time. The exception is when they move for the first time. They can then choose to move one or both squares.
* Pawns may only capture opponent’s pawns diagonally.

This is a great game to learn about the movement of pawns, as well as the benefits of working with the other pawns. The pawn specific case of an en passant is called a “en passant”, which is not necessary here for this simple game.