Introduce Chess Board Rules at an Early Stage for Kids – How to Start

Wondering if chess is useful for toddlers who haven't started their school education yet?

Kids have a huge capacity for learning new things right from the age they start recognizing the alphabet!  Toddlers can acquire different types of skills and physical competencies with the proper guidance.  They can quickly grasp multiple languages and games while learning to walk, jump and climb.

Chess For Kids – How to Introduce It to Them?

The game of chess comes with billions of new possibilities to explore.  The key is not to overstrain their brain with excessive information.  There are varying learning speeds and it differs from child to child.  It would be best to look for subtle indicators that show if the child is ready to learn new moves in the game.  Before you place an order for a marble chess set, here are some ways to help them learn the game the right way.


Start Teaching the Rules of Chess Board before Your Kid Starts School

It is imperative to select the right size of marble chess board for your child.  A complete chess set will intrigue them and help them learn about each piece's beautiful shape, name, rule and capabilities.

Buy a marble chess set with big robust pieces that allow the child to discover every nuance of the game.  It is recommended not to thrust all the pieces into toddlers' hands.  Keep it to a ‘one piece lesson’ for each day to explain how they move independently, and together to win the game.

What If Kids Start to lose Interest?

There will be times when the chess game rules may be too much for most young ones.  It may be difficult for them to grasp it all in one sitting.  That is why it’s better to break it up into different segments.  Let all the component parts of the game make sense together at the end.

Always Start With the Rook

Wondering why learning the chess rules should start with the rook?  You may have heard that the movement of pawns seems more logical.  However, there's no perfect pawn to start with and it often leads to making mistakes.

Instead of overwhelming kids with all the lessons at once, break down the chess piece movements into baby steps.

Why Introduce Chess Rules at Such an Early Age?

Teaching kids how to play chess from the age of four or five prepares them for school challenges ahead.  There are many fundamentals and skills they can acquire from the game, such as:

  • Staying focused.
  • Understanding the next few possible moves from an opponent.
  • Problem-solving.
  • Team spirit.
  • Follow-through of the game rules.

Imagine every kid having all these skills right from kindergarten and first-grade.  Now is the time to help them embrace learning differently with the rules of chess.

Schools have started to introduce the game to kids and have included it in their curriculum.  Research suggests that playing chess at an early age helps kids improve their test scores in logical math and science subjects.