Chess is an exciting and beautiful game with a unique history and heritage. If taught correctly, it can teach children how to think ahead, stay calm, and solve problems. But many children are starting too young, learning too fast, and entering tournaments before they’re ready. This can lead to stress, confusion, and even a dislike of the game.
Why Timing Matters
It’s understandable that children are eager to play a full game or take part in a tournament, but, for most children, this isn’t the best way to approach chess.
This is where cognitive load (Wiki) comes in. It’s a way of thinking about how much information a child can handle at once. If we give them too much too soon, their minds can get overloaded, and real learning doesn’t happen. Before you play a complete game, you need to learn how to set up the board, the names and moves of six pieces (king, queen, rook, bishop, knight, pawn), three ‘eccentric’ rules (castling, pawn promotion, the en passant capture) and three abstract concepts (check, checkmate, stalemate). And that’s just what you need to play legal, rather than good chess. Anyone, especially a young child, who tries to learn this in half an hour, will almost certainly end up confused, and no real learning will take place. It’s much better if children learn a few things at a time, through minigames or puzzles, with daily repetition, reinforcement and feedback.
Step by Step Support
Children learn best when new ideas are introduced slowly and with support. This is called scaffolding (Wiki) – like building a ladder one rung at a time.
It’s not just learning one thing at a time, it’s also learning in the right order: mastering simple skills before attempting complex skills, acquiring basic knowledge before being introduced to advanced knowledge.
In chess, that might mean:
- Learning how each piece moves
- Playing small games with just a few pieces
- Talking about choices and feelings during play
- Learning to play simple endings well
- Becoming fluent at solving simple tactical puzzles quickly and accurately
- Learning to master simple openings before complex openings
You might think this sounds boring, but mastering any skill involves a lot of repetition of simple skills, whether scales on the piano or short putts in golf. Taking this approach to chess will, in the long term, help children build confidence and enjoy the game without pressure.
Tournaments Can Wait
Competitions are exciting—but they’re also intense. Some children feel nervous, others feel they must win to be “good.” If they haven’t had time to grow into the game, to master all the rules, to understand the principles required to play well, to get used to using timers and, if required, scoring their games, tournaments can turn chess into a source of stress instead of joy.
Chess: A Safe Space
Chess should be a journey, not a race: a place where children feel calm, curious, and proud of their progress, a place where children can make new friends who share their interests. When we give them time to grow, they learn more deeply and enjoy the journey. It’s not about how early they start – it’s about how well they’re supported.
CHESS MINDS 