Summer is here and I imagine that you and your children are having fun!  Now’s a good time to take out a chess set and start teaching them the wonders of the game.

Did you know that you can start teaching a 4 year old the basics?  They are ready at that age to really enjoy chess.  Start slowly, one piece at a time.  Try teaching at the beach or at the park, after they had some good exercise.

If you want to get adventurous, you can even start teaching your 2 or 3 year old about the names of the pieces and how they move.  Make up little games, which help them practice the piece movement.

If your older child wants to teach your younger one, let them try!  My 6-year-old son really enjoys teaching our 3-year-old daughter.  They will play for almost an hour sometimes.  It can be a great bonding experience for them (as long as the older one is patient and encouraging).

You can also organize a chess party and invite your children’s friends.  If they know the game well, make it a little tournament and give out prizes.  Kids love tournaments and get very excited about them.

Enjoy your summer!