Chess: Teaching Children, Part 1

I learned chess as a child and have played very little during the interim years. It is a fun, but sometimes frustrating game. Teaching it to children can be a challenge. Starting with the pieces and how they move to setting up the board - to actual game play. All good up to this point. Even discussing the need to keep a close eye all over the board (not just the genius offensive plan you are hatching) is ok, even when pieces are lost. The main challenge is building up confidence. Read any book on the subject and they warn you that you will lose, lose and lose. However, you will get better. You will build skill and eventually get that first win under your belt. This can be enough of a challenge with adults, but children take this challenge up a few levels.

I'm going to do some research on the subject, looking for strategies that teach game play without the disappointment of losing. Could be just part of learning the game, but its worth a look.

 

(Oh yea, I know this has a very dubious title, Part 1 indeed...)