For Parents and Teachers

Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.

- Matthew Jacobson

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• Kids can start learning how to play chess as young as 3-4 years old!

• The key is interest and patience.

  • Incorporate jokes, games within games, puzzles, and tailor it to the child to keep him or her engaged!

• Let them win!

• There are many ways to use this website:

  • The child can use the website and ask you questions

  • You can review the website with the child

  • Use the website as a guide to teach your child yourself, progressing at the speed that best suits him/her.

• There is a special section under chess strategies for parents and teachers to play mini games with their kid! This breaks down the chess game and allows the youngster to familiarize himself or herself with the pieces.

• Sample lesson plan (weeks or days). If the child is more advanced or older, you can expedite the process.

  • Start with the general rules and goals of chess

    • Week 1: learn how the pawn moves, play pawns only game

    • Week 2: learn how the rook moves, play pawns only game and pawns and rook games

    • Week 3: learn how the bishop moves and play mini games with pawns, rooks, and bishops games

    • Week 4: learn how the knight moves and play mini games with pawns, rooks, bishops, and knights games

    • Week 5: learn how the queen moves and play mini games with pawns, queens, rooks, bishops, and knights games

    • Week 6: learn how the king moves and play mini games and start full games

    • Week 1-6: As the child learns how to move each piece, you can set up basic tactic positions where those pieces (bishops, knights, rooks, and queen) can capture enemy pieces.

    • Week 7-12: play games and introduce basic strategies and tactics - once the child grasps the movement of each piece, you can teach one type of basic tactic to him/her each day.

      • Each tactic can be a new session, and each session should also cover the previous learning objectives of the prior sessions. There are 6 basic tactics. I recommend learning “forks” or “double attack” as the first tactic.

      • You can also create your own puzzles using similar patterns.

    • Week 13: As you play games, see if you recognize any of the tactics and if the child can set them up!

    • Week 14: Continue to play games with the child. They can practice online as well.

    • Week 14 and on - start incorporating more strategies.

• If the child enjoys any of the mini games or tactics, make sure to repeat them!