Giant chess sets are fun to play with. This picture comes from Brian Meeks, a new friend from Linkedin.  He’s a woodworker, photographer and writer, amongst other things.

My husband and I love to use a giant chess board with very young children. We don’t use the pieces, but make the children into the pieces, allowing them to walk the board.

We play games using the dark and light squares, hopping like a knight, etc.  The kids love it and really get how the pieces move.

Parents often tell me that their children don’t like to lose. Well, that’s natural. I don’t like to lose either. I don’t know too many people who do. However, it is valuable to learn to handle losses with good manners.

We teach our students from the start that when you win or lose you should always shake your opponent’s hand and say “Good game!” Many games will be played and no one can expect to win every game.

I tell our students that good manners is important. It is part of being a chess player. We talk about the right way to handle a win, too.  Jumping up and saying, “I WON, YOU LOST!!  HA HA HA!” is not polite. Neither is bursting into tears and running away from the board, if you lose.

Kids get this. They laugh and nod in agreement.

Last week I was very pleased when a mother of one of our 5-year-old students called me. Her son had been home from school sick for the day and they had played chess.

That on its own was pretty cool!

Then she had told me that she always had trouble with her son when he lost at Candyland or some other game. But when they played chess, he was different. When he lost a piece, he actually said, “Good one, mom!” to her with a smile. She was astonished and very pleased.

I love hearing these stories back from parents!

We had our first chess class of the year today.  First day back at school and the kids were eager to play.

One of our students invited a new student to join the class.  I asked him to teach his friend, since he was one of our advanced students.  I spent time with other students and watched him from time to time.  He did very well!

I was able to help teach him how to teach, while supervising his friend’s lessons.  There were a few times when I had to remind him not to teach complex concepts at this stage, but simply to go over how the pieces move and allow the new student to practice that.

It is a common error in teaching to race through the basics.  In chess a student will become disinterested quickly if you don’t give them the time to learn how the pieces move, give them time to really practice this.

In the end the student and his friend were both excited by the class.  They enjoyed learning together, each learning different lessons.

If your child plays chess and can beat you, encourage them to teach you.  Teaching another is a powerful way to learn.  You must really know the subject in order to break it down to explain it to someone else.

Think of a time when you taught someone something.  Didn’t you learn something about the subject during the process?  You must look at (and understand fully) the basics of the subject.  It is hard not to become more expert yourself when you teach someone else.

Plus it is a huge confidence boost for any child to be able to teach an adult.  Children have accepted help for years, learning from you.  Being able switch roles for a moment, teaching the teacher, is huge.  It is an experience which stays with a child, throughout their lives.

It is tempting when you know a lot about chess to try and teach it all to your young child, all at once.  This is the wrong approach.  What will happen is they will become "bored" with the game and "become interested in other things".

Keep your chess lessons short and sweet in the beginning, especially if you are working with a very young child.  Take it step by step and make sure they understand each concept before moving on.

Some concepts may take longer than others to master.  Each child will learn at a different pace, picking things up at their own speed.  It really doesn’t matter how long it takes for your child to learn.  If they get it and can use it, chances are they will love chess.

Start with the names of the pieces and how they move.  Plan to spend some time on this.  If you are working with a very young child (age 5 or younger), start with the Rook and Bishop and end the first lesson after they have mastered these pieces.

Enjoy this time with your child.  The bonding experience will be memorable!