Rush Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 A couple of friends of mine are taking their kids for chess lessons, so I was wondering what is the earliest age to introduce chess? unfortunately, we do not have any chess classes in our area. Also, would be very grateful if you suggest a good book for a very young kids, or maybe a good website or online program? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleeplessnights Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 My boys both learned at about five years old, and my daughter has been wanting to learn too. I taught them the names of the pieces and their moves myself. It's nice that they can play each other. Our local library has a chess club every two weeks, but they don't go to any formal lessons. It's mostly for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 The "Fritz & Chesster" series of computer games is a perfect introduction for little ones. It starts by teaching the pieces, and has lots of little games that just focus on one piece at a time. If you have a mac (running Leopard, Tiger, or Snow Leopard, but not Lion), all three programs are available in one package for $10. The Windows 7/XP/Vista version is a bit more expensive and you have to buy the 3 programs separately (as far as I know). Murray Chandler's Chess Tactics for Kids and How to Beat Your Dad at Chess have been a hit with DS (who does, indeed, beat his dad at chess. :D), and I see that he also has a book for younger children, Chess for Children, although I haven't seen it in person. Another possibility that I've heard good things about but haven't used myself is No Stress Chess. With a 3.5 year old, I would start with Fritz & Chesster. I think my DD was around 4 when she first used it. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liamtaylorsmom Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 We got No Stress Chess when Liam was 6 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It really and truly is "no stress" and a 5/6 year old could pick up and play very easily. It gives you steps to progress through as you learn the game better to where you could just play regular chess once you've mastered the game. I highly recommend it. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturally Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 We bought our boys "Once A Pawn A Time" to learn. They love it. It has books that teach each piece and its moves in story form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenR Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Do you have an iPad? If so you MUST get DinoChess. You can get it in computer game form too I believe. My dd5 LOVES it. I'm learning along with her.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenR Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I just realized that web site doesn't seem to have a link for their apps. Here it is on the iStore. We got it for our iPhones and iPads but it is much easy to navigate on the iPad. I'd go that route if its an option for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrunchyGirl Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Perfect timing! DH and I were just talking about having him teach DS. I have a sneaky suspicion DS is going to love it! I wish I had learned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professormom Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Two years ago at the Cincinnati convention, I bought a set that comes in a bag with decent sized pieces and a roll up board. It doesn't sound fancy, but I bought it with the Chess Basics book by Stephen Schneider and it was an excellent way to teach the kids... I didn't really remember how to play and it walks you through step by step. The board is super portable, we take it on all of our vacations, and the kids have pretty much taken what they know from the book and now they play quite well... And really love it, which just makes me smile:001_smile: They were 5 and 7 at the time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikemyhomeschool Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 My kids love Fritz and chester. They started very young (4 1/2yo) and they still enjoy it. I was in Spain a few years ago and found the chess set with the characters (see picture here) http://www.flickr.com/photos/55308178@N05/7090887101/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2blessings Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I know how to play, but my son became most interested when a friend gave us Lego Chess on a cd rom...the pieces have a short, mini-battle and fall down when you take them. As he's aged, he likes to refer to the Usborne Book of Chess for strategy ideas. HTH some:) Gina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbakos Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 My ds is 5 and has his own wooden chess set. My dh knows how to play so he learns from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawndrese Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 We got No Stress Chess when Liam was 6 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It really and truly is "no stress" and a 5/6 year old could pick up and play very easily. It gives you steps to progress through as you learn the game better to where you could just play regular chess once you've mastered the game. I highly recommend it. :) :iagree: We have this too. Bought it off Amazon :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Posted April 21, 2012 Author Share Posted April 21, 2012 Thank you for everyone and especially Corraleno. We've decided to give a try to Fritz & Chesster and ordered the completed set:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 We got No Stress Chess when Liam was 6 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It really and truly is "no stress" and a 5/6 year old could pick up and play very easily. It gives you steps to progress through as you learn the game better to where you could just play regular chess once you've mastered the game. I highly recommend it. :) :iagree: This has been most helpful for my son who really wanted to learn the game but is HIGHLY competitive (and so is his mother :tongue_smilie:)) It teaches the pieces, their moves, special moves (castling, etc) while you play and limits the variables you need to think about to two, three, or at most 5 possibilities. And as you are learning you actually get the satisfaction that you never achieve in real chess: actually *taking* your opponents King! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiKC Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 Age 4 for the basics like how the pieces move. Games with just pawns, etc. Age 5 for learning the pieces and game. Learning Chess: Fritz & Chesster, and Dinosaur Chess (we have the software, not the app). I think the best software for the very youngest kids is Dino Chess. We also have Lego Chess, but I'm not sure there's much actual instruction like there is in the other two. Not sure about that. I host a chess club (actually a couple!) in my home. I have one group of 8 kindergartners and it is awesome. I highly recommend it. The chess coach comes and teaches them a little mini-lesson, and then they have the opportunity to play each other. At the end of each session (anywhere from 6-12 weeks) he runs a tournament which they love. They also play some game called "Bughouse" and go nuts over it. Not sure what it is, I guess a variant of the main chess game. Having friends over to play and having an instructor makes it so much more exciting for the kids. And they learn more this way. I'd probably wait until age 5 to do it, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsBanjoClown Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 My ds(7) learned to play this year using Once a Pawn a Time. It is a game that comes with two storybooks that teach the basics of chess. He has really enjoyed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 Heidi, I love the idea of the chess club. I might have to put out feelers and see if there's any interest around here. (I don't know enough to teach it, so I also need to find someone who does!!) We have "Starting Chess" from Usborne and it's helpful. I will have to check out some of the computer programs you all mentioned!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeidiKC Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Heidi, I love the idea of the chess club. I might have to put out feelers and see if there's any interest around here. (I don't know enough to teach it, so I also need to find someone who does!!) We have "Starting Chess" from Usborne and it's helpful. I will have to check out some of the computer programs you all mentioned!! I'd definitely recommend a chess teacher/coach rather than just someone who knows the game. There is a HUGE difference- not just because the kids will be better learning from a chess coach, but because he'll (or she'll!) teach them so many openings, strategies, and fun stuff. He knows hot to run tournaments, etc. I looked online and found a local chess club/school. In addition to classes, he also does private tutoring. Which of course was WAY too expensive for me, so I asked him if I could get together 8 kids and he could teach them - basically splitting the cost of a private lesson. I lucked out and he was very generous. But 8 is a nice number of kids, and I think you can get someone to come out to your house for 45-60 minutes a week for $7-8/student, depending on where you live. That is $55-65/hour, or more if the club only runs 45 minutes. We just run ours for 30 minutes, but I wish it was 45 minutes. I also think you'll have no problem getting enough kids (well, unless you live in a tiny town or something). Do it after school if you have to, to get the school kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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