Alice Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I don't often post here and I'm don't really think my son is gifted the way many of the kids here are but I thought people here might have an answer for me. :) My almost 6 yr old is really interested in learning to play chess. I have no idea how to play. Dh knows how to play and is willing to teach him, but he isn't the most natural at teaching at 6 yr old. Not bashing dh at all, he's a very good teacher...but just not used to teaching young kids. I was wondering if anyone knew of any materials out there that either dh or I could use to teach ds. Something fun...I'm not trying to push ds to learn this but he's mentioned many many times that he wants to learn so I figure I should try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Lego Chess is really fun. I learned at the same time as my son and I REALLY like chess now. Check for system compatibility - I don't know if it will run in "Compatibility Mode" in Vista or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quad Shot Academy Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 My son learned with Chesskids.com Then I got him a Chess Teacher Board and a few easy chess books. The hard part is finding people to play with him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Try No-Stress Chess. When you first start playing, you use a side of the board that shows how to set it up, and you play with cards, which teaches you how each piece moves. (Also useful if the two players are of very different skill levels, as there is quite a bit of luck involved.) When you're ready, turn the game board over and play a regular game of chess. Within a few weeks of playing this game, the 5 year old could play a regular game of chess, and the 3 year old could set up a game board perfectly (though he couldn't move the pieces). I would guess that once your dc gets started, your dh will have an easier time teaching him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy in TN Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Try No-Stress Chess. When you first start playing, you use a side of the board that shows how to set it up, and you play with cards, which teaches you how each piece moves. (Also useful if the two players are of very different skill levels, as there is quite a bit of luck involved.) When you're ready, turn the game board over and play a regular game of chess. We also purchased No-Stress Chess. Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Usborne has an internet-linked introductory chess book that my dd enjoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 We are using Quick Chess for our 6yo: there are about 10 different games, you start using only pawns on a board with fewer squares, then each game introduces another piece until finally you turn the board over to use the full sized one and play 'real' chess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scuff Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 :lurk5: I've been wanting to ask this same question! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 I tried WinterPromise's "Knights of the Square Table" with my oldest when she was 5. It's a good program for learning chess but she never really got into the game (and to be honest I don't care much for it either). So we shelved it a couple months into the year. As a FYI, WP is a Protestant Christian company, but the chess program appeared to be secular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeanM Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 My boys really enjoyed the CD-ROMs "Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster." They also liked the Chesskids website that somebody else mentioned. They both took in-person chess classes at around that age. I enjoyed it when they played chess. I wish they still liked it. Have fun, Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kay in Cal Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 My boys also loved Fritz and Chester... it was recommended on this board a long time ago (back when it was the old board). Older ds used to do a chess club at our local homeschool group and loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babysparkler Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Our kids started with the DVD/workbooks from Championship Chess. We also use the materials to teach a chess class at co-op. I highly recommend them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Highly recommend Kids' Book of Chess by Harvey Kidder. I picked up a copy at a book sale for 50 cents. It didn't have the chess set that comes with the new copies on Amazon, but the book taught our children (ages 7 and 9) easily. It helped that we were doing Ambleside Year 2 at the time, which is medieval history, and the book comes at chess telling the story of the medieval battlefield the chess board represents. Not big on strategy, but perfect for learning chess basics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freerange Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) DH had me hunt down a copy of White King, Black KingMy girls have loved it. We've also borrowed Checkmate at Chess City from the library many times. DD is sitting next to me as I type, and having seen it on amazon is now pleading with me to buy a copy! Edited October 8, 2009 by freerange edited because the underling went a little doolally! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I second the suggestions for Lego Chess and Fritz and Chesster. (There are two different Fritz and Chesster games, and while both are good, my ds seemed to prefer the original one.) If you buy Lego Chess, be sure it will work with your computer's operating system. The game has been around for a long time, and many of the ones I've seen for sale have been the Windows 95 version, which may or may not work on your computer. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2GirlsTX Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Our kids started with the DVD/workbooks from Championship Chess. We also use the materials to teach a chess class at co-op. I highly recommend them. My daughter did this class for two years at a co-op and she loved chess using these books. She also got her books signed by Steve Schneider when he was in town, a really nice guy. You might check your cable tv, I have seen his classes show up every now and then on Direct TV. The books /dvd are worth their weight in gold to learn chess. Before that class she used Fritz and Chesster which are great. Chess is really alot of fun, and I think it is great he wants to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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