Summer Chess Fun
July 24, 2010
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!
Every kid should know how to play chess. I’ve enjoyed playing the game for as long as I can remember. I don’t even remember how or when I learned how to play! Unfortunately, opponents are tough to find in this household. My spouse is not very interested, and our 12 year old would rather fire up the playstation. These are great but ambitious ideas in this digital age.
comment by Paul Novak — July 29, 2010 @ 8:25 pm
I agree with you Paul! And it is easier to start when they’re young, but you can still try now.
The best thing to do is to play games with someone else, so that he can watch his Dad play. You can also try explaining that chess will give him skills he can use in school and life. At that age, that may or may not resonate with him.
Thanks for writing!
comment by Your Chess Coach — July 29, 2010 @ 8:33 pm