Getting kids into chess

Hey, sorry for asking questions that are probably being asked daily. But Id like to have the chance to respond to responses if necessary here.

This will obviously differ a lot from kid to kid, but what age seems appropriate to start playing chess with kids? Is there anything that helps figuering out if the kid is ready?

Also are there any tricks that make the game more enjoyfull maybe less "boring" for young ones?

I kinda fear that the kids I want to introduce to chess may be turned off by it heavily if they dont enjoy it quickly. And chess takes some time to get used to, apparently

Also, since I wont ever lose a game to them, early on at least, is it adviceable to make bad moves and if so at what frequency? (This question applies to anything I guess, and will also again vary heavily from kid to kid)

Im thankfull for any kind of tipps/informations/links.

As per my reading normally 5-6 age is appropirate. but if he takes interest early you can start. My son play tournament at the age of 4 and recently won the trophy.

To make more interesting you have to loose with them so they will enjoy  playing with you. don't try to teach more. let them enjoy!!

I don't know about losing on purpose. Most kids will realize what you did and dislike the win. I'm not saying that is the case for all kids and you can take their temperment into consideration when making that decision. However, they will feel much better when they finally beat you legitimately.

One method I have heard was to allow the player to switch sides whenever they want to. So, if you are playing and get a stronger position they can take over and play that side of the game.

Thanks for the answers so far. I like the idea with the side switching, that sounds fun.

I guess in the end Ill just have to try and see how it goes.

I just read some ideas on this, i will try and replicate them here (not my ideas and not sure where I read them):

1. Start with just the pawns, first ine to get a pawn to the eighth rank wins. Then add the K (with all the rules about check, etc.), then add the Knights then Bishops, etc.

2. Use both Knights on each side, first one to capture one of the opposing Knights wins. Then add random Pawns that cannot move and cannot be captured. Then let them capture with the Pawns, then let them move and capture with the pawns.

3. Try the same type of thing with the Bishops.

4. Put a Knight on a1 (white) and h8 (black), first one to the other sides starting square wins.

Games like that may help keep their interest as they learn the rules and liece movement.

I actually have the following books and it is interesting and might be worth it for someone following the topic:

http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Chess-Teaching-Children-Ages/dp/1936277360/

Nowadays, most children encounter chess through video games on their tablets or smartphones.  This is a shame as to imagine life in the three-dimensional battle of chess helped me to realise the influence of chess pieces.  Also the tactile nature of the chess-pieces was part of the enjoyment and the advice to "sit on your hands" before making a move was a wise check against impulse.

So wean your prodgeny on the wood/plastic real-life board as soon as you can, the joy will be theirs.

Forgot to mention the fun of suicide chess.  It teaches more lessons in a fun way.

Kids do enjoy knight puzzles. Try setting up a pawn capture with their knight. If they are complete beginner, set up where the knight can capture the pawn  in two moves. As they got better at it, increase the number of moves that it will take the knight to capture the pawn.

Kids enjoy learning two mate with the rooks. Give them also simple two move mate and 1 mate problems. Let them solve easy fork and pin tactics.

Show them pictures, at the internet, of manny kids playing chess as it could inspire/motivate them.

As they got better, you must have good tactical materials appropriate for them I suggest you look at books like Tactics Time or World Champions Guide to Chess by Polgar.

I am just 11 but my rating is 1236 live standard

Mind telling me how you got interrested in chess?

Also thanks for all the great suggestions guys. The few pieces games work quite well, eventho the kids always are against it at first because they want to play the real game. Ive noticed, as always, with kids its mostly about the way I engange them rather than the actual task.

kids like mate in one and simple tactics

Mind telling me how you got interrested in chess?

Also thanks for all the great suggestions guys. The few pieces games work quite well, eventho the kids always are against it at first because they want to play the real game. Ive noticed, as always, with kids its mostly about the way I engange them rather than the actual task.

Said by Heronnymo 

What is u r age?

Im 27, my nephews/niece that I want to teach are 6-9.

Yes, my father too. But now I am stronger then him, he tells "Why did I lose at that time, now I cannot win against you" Ha ha.

I created 150 one and two move exercises especially for children. First they were on worksheets that I distributed in after school clubs, but now are available to anyone with a Kindle reader (i.e. smart phone). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XKG1VZD

I can relate to kids liking chess when I literally am 12 years old

When I taught my son (6), I purposely move my pieces to setup forks, skewers, and pins for him to find during the game.  After a while (10-20games), I became really good at that (and can move pieces into such situations without too much effort).

I also let him remove 3 pieces from my army.  Then 2, then 1, and finally none.  The progression here is actually very fast (I think within 30 games, I stopped this offering because he's gotten strong enough I just can't beat him anymore without a queen).

I also give him a number of undo moves (he can only undo a turn).  We started with 3 undos per game, then decrease it.

At first, I also let him change sides once during the game.  This didn't last long esp. after I taught him resignation.  However, he usually resigns too early, so I changed it where if he resigns too early, then he gets no credit for the game.

Oh, my son is on a star system (1 star = 10 minutes of screen time, e.g. TV, computer, chess.com live chess, tablet, phone, etc.).  On a good day, he can earn 3-5 stars.  Chess games with me can earn him stars: 3 loss = 1 star, draw = 1 star, win = 2 stars.  So, resigning early doesn't count towards a loss.  Each time he wanted to but didn't resign and ends up winning, I point it out to him.

Another thing we have is the game call Majestic Chess.  It has an adventure mode which is like chess video game.  This game is great because he has to use stars to play and it teaches him chess.  When he passes each chapter, he gets rewards with a large number of stars.  he's now on the last chapter (8) and if he passes that he'll get 30 stars (which actually less than what I think he'll need to invest to pass).  He caught on pretty fast after the first few chapters and told me that he'll end up negative in stars; which I remind him any free stars just makes Majesty Chess screen cheaper.  Oh, kids these days.

But all of the above was in the past.  Now, after nearly 6 months since I started teaching him, he's now able to beat me fairly easily (he's got a higher chess.com elo score than me).  I've reached my teaching limits, so we now just enjoy the chess game as equals (he still earns stars, but we adjusted it to 3 losses = 0 star; draw = 0 star; win = 1 star).

I started learning chess wen I was nine..

Learnt from my friends..