How to Teach Chess to Children
One of the most wonderful things about chess is that you can play as challenging a game with an eight-year-old child, as you can with an 80 year old senior citizen. As a matter of fact, there have been children in their teens who have reached the highest level of chess and been crowned grandmasters of the game. You can teach the children you know a game that will bring them joy throughout their lives, as long as you have patience and a good working knowledge of the game.
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Instructions
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Familiarize the child with the board. Before children can learn to play the game, they must learn the basic manner in which the board will be used once the pieces have been set on it. The website Chesskids.com offers interactive tutorials for children (see Resources below).
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Teach the child the names and jobs of the various pieces in the game. Once children are aware of what the pieces are supposed to do and the way they are able to move, the game and its objective will make much more sense to them.
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Instruct the child on a few basic opening moves which set up the entire game. Learning these early on can help children to get a good foundation in the game of chess.
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Have the child watch the games of experienced players. Children can improve their games by watching the strategies of others and applying what they have learned to their own games.
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Make sure that the child you are teaching is well-rested. Chess is a game that requires a great deal of concentration and cannot be learned or played by a tired child.
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Take the opportunity to teach the child good sportsmanship. The child will likely lose as much as he wins and should maintain a good attitude regardless of the outcome.
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Tips & Warnings
A child is much more likely to stay interested in an activity if they are around others of their own age. If your child is truly interested in chess, find a children's club or a club that has other children.
Do not make learning chess a chore for the child. Although chess is a demanding game, it need not become a drudgery that the child feels compelled to participate in. Make sure fun is the objective and outcome of every game.
