Chess for kids is a game that can be intimidating, especially when they are just starting to learn and play.
The complex rules, the large number of pieces, and the strategic thinking can all overwhelm young players.
However, chess can be incredibly beneficial; helping to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and much more!
All the benefits unfold gradually when kids start learning chess.
So, how can we make chess easy to understand and less overwhelming for kids?
Here are some of the best ways to make chess for kids less intimidating and more fun.
6 Ways to Make Chess for Kids Less Intimidating
1. Start with the Basics
Chess for kids can be more intimidating if they don’t know the basics well enough.
Before becoming the master of any skill, first, we need to master the basics of that skill.
The same applies to chess!
If kids are taught the fundamentals of chess right, they are more likely to learn advanced lessons more effectively.
Some of the basics of chess to know are the movement of each piece, the points system, basic tactics, etc.
2. Keep it Simple
The simpler the explanations, the easier it is for kids to understand chess.
If we try to keep the explanations and instructions as simple as possible, it really helps children to understand the concepts without any effort.
Introducing jargon, tactics, technicalities, and theory can possibly overwhelm kids. Hence, it is only useful to bring these up later when they are actually ready for it.
A lot of this depends on the structure of the curriculum.
Therefore, HobSpace has the #1 chess curriculum in the world which is designed by the Grandmasters!
3. Use Visual Aids
There is a reason why children love cartoons.
Visual aids, such as diagrams and illustrations, are proven to be very helpful in teaching children virtually anything.
With that said, chess trainers can use visual aids to explain complicated chess concepts and strategies.
This is one of the huge advantages of online chess for kids as compared to offline chess learning.
Traditional chess learning involves limited methodologies unlike online learning which involves methods that make chess learning for kids much more stimulating.
4. Make it Fun
Chess is a board game after all and it is supposed to be fun to learn and play.
Learning chess can be made a lot more interesting by including things like puzzles, story-telling, riddles, quizzes, and whatnot!
This is why we take chess puzzles and quizzes every on HobSpace’s Instagram page.
Chess puzzles are something that makes children brainstorm heavily. Even the Grandmasters like doing puzzles because it is really fun!
And the reason is, puzzles are challenging!
We are relatively less motivated to learn a concept when it is explained to us but we are highly motivated when it comes to solving something that is challenging.
5. Incorporate Storytelling
Other than puzzles, storytelling can be a fascinating way to make chess for kids really fun.
Old school as it might be but one of the ways how most of us learned about ethics and morals was through stories.
Stories are a great way to understand and teach anything with minimal effort. It is the best indirect way to teach something to kids.
Children tend to be attentive when we address something with interesting characters, a plot, a story setting, sounds, surprises, etc.
6. Show the Real-Life Application
This is basically reversing the above-mentioned point.
Showing real-life applications to kids is like using chess as a story to help them understand other related things.
We can draw a number of analogies between chess and real-life situations.
It can be less intimidating when they understand the real-life applications of the game.
Explaining how the game can help them in school and in their future careers can be helpful.
There are enough reasons why chess is the best extracurricular activity for kids!
Conclusion
By following these tips, one can make chess for kids less intimidating and help them to develop a love for the game.
Let’s recall these points for the last time!
1. Start teaching chess to kids with basics
2. Keep the chess teaching methods simple
3. Use visual aids to make concepts interesting
4. Make learning chess fun by using puzzles
5. Incorporate storytelling
6. Show real-life applications of chess