Chess teaches strategy and thinking skills your child can use for the rest of their lives. These tips on chess for kids will help you to determine when the right time to teach them the game is.
First you will need to decide if your child is ready to learn this game. It is very complex with a lot of pieces and all for the pieces are important to the game. You should always remember that each child is different. My son learned at age 4 but my nephew is 6 and I don't think he would be able to learn yet. Younger children can learn to play but you will need to be very patient.
Even with the most patient teacher kids can get discouraged very easily. If your child has a limited attention span this should be taken into consideration. Chess can be a long game and if the child doesn't want to sit still or would rather go and play with other toys then you may want to wait until they are a bit older.
Children also get confused quite easily when learning complex games. If you don't know how to play yourself then it may be a good idea to learn before teaching a child. This will also help keep the child from getting board while you look up answers to question. If you don't know how to play yourself then you may even find you don't like the game much and decide that this isn't a very good idea.
Chess boards come in a wide selection. You can get a cheap board for a few dollars or you may decide to go with an electronic chess board or even a computer game version. The electronic games are more expensive but will help to teach your child the game. They have different level settings and they can be played with one player against the computer.
Once your child learns the basics then it will require a lot of practice to learn how to play well. There are books that help to teach strategy if your child is old enough. Also they can play online against other people from around the world. This will give them a chance to practice with someone else and see how others play. Of course you should always be cautious with allowing your child on the internet and be prepared to supervise them.
Chess is a game that will allow many hours of enjoyment for you and your child. These tips on chess for kids can make learning the game fun.
