Jon Sieber, co-founder, Story Time Chess
Chess has been linked to countless benefits, everything from
critical thinking to emotional intelligence and grit. But chess can also carry
an old stigma of being stuffy, elitist, boring and impossible to learn. The
first part is true. The second part doesn’t have to be.
I’ve spent the last decade plus teaching hundreds of kids,
as young as three years old, how to play chess, and more than 100,000 children
across the globe have successfully learned the game through my educational
company Story Time Chess.
If you’ve been thinking about introducing chess to your
child, here are some tips to help you get started, make learning fun and spark
that love of the game:
Think tee ball, not the major leagues. When I tell
people children as young as three years old can learn how to play chess, they
immediately think their child will become a grandmaster overnight. Toss that
notion out. Think about how we teach children how to play baseball: you start
with tee ball and teach them the basics first.
Take it one piece at a time. Chess is a complicated
game. We recommend introducing children to one game piece at a time using the
“Russian Method” of learning chess. Over time, you can layer in new pieces and
concepts. This is known as a scaffolding building blocks approach.
Savor the “ah-ha” moments. Children learn best
through self-discovery or “ah-ha” moments. Teach them the “why” in additional
to “how” the pieces move and they’ll learn the rules of the game before you
know it.
READ MORE: Five good reasons to play board games with your children
Teach good posture. We tell children to make a “Thinking
Cup.” If you sit up tall, clap your hands together, open them up to make a cup
(with the bottom of your palms together) and rest your chin in your hands, you
can really focus on the board and think about your next move. This stance also
teaches young children how to sit still, concentrate and establish
self-control.
Use a story-telling approach. Historically, chess was
taught to 7-year-old mathematically inclined boys in a very repetitive and
serious fashion. Try a fresh approach that engages any child ages 3 and up who
loves stories with silly characters, action, and adventure with Story Time Chess: The Game, now
available at storytimechess.com and on Amazon for $39.99.
Don’t be afraid to get silly! I have a background in
children’s theater and kids really tune in and engage when you speak their
language. We do “chessercises” with kids where after learning how a chess piece
moves, we’ll act it out and role play. We’ll even dress up if it means a few
extra laughs and a more memorable lesson.
Jon Sieber is co-founder of Story Time Chess, which has successfully
taught kids as young as three years old how to play chess all around the world
through its innovative teaching method and silly story-based curriculum. The
company offers private tutoring, virtual lessons, and its multi-award-winning
board game Story Time Chess: The Game is a cult classic among parents.
Other articles by HVP News Reporters