Hello everyone. I’m interested in teaching my 3 year old how to play chess. Has anyone taught a toddler/preschooler or young child how to play chess?
Do you know any chess programs, books, videos, etc. that may help teach a young child?
I think it’ll be good to start on a big chess set (rather than the smaller, classic sized board).
Any thoughts?
There are a few chess books for toddlers in Russian, which are written in a fairy tale style. I liked them a lot, but have not found anything like that in English. If anyone had – please share! :yes:
In the meantime you can check these free LR Library lessons – http://library.brillkids.com/library.php?cid=1&criteria=chess
I found them to be a good start in introducing my toddlers to chess. Eventually I envision teaching classic chess games Doman style, using flash in Little Reader showing the progression of the game. With young children having an amazing ability to remember and derive rules from sequences, it can work really well
I can recommend this game - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Fun-3400-Solitaire-Chess/dp/B0032UKQFO
Very nicely done, children can pick up the chess rules very quickly. I am planing this like a pre-step for real chess afterwards.
I know it is written there - 8+ but I think it would be too easy for 8 years old kids. I am playing it with my 4 years old son.
Hope it helps.
That was one of my goals too. I think my son was not 4 yet when I started to introduce the game. I bought the app DinoChess he loved it and we still use it since it has different levels. Along with that I also bought the board game No Stress Chess. That was a great start to play not a whole game of course but to learn how to set up the pieces and play little games practicing the rules of the different pieces. Now he is 5 and knows a lot and loves to play chess. We still have a lot to learn ( unfortunately I had no idea about the whole game, I am learning with him) but we have fun and also getting better.
There is a new app out there from the Hungarian Judit Polgar (chess grandmaster). It’s called ChessPlayground.
Hope I could help.
Its a difficult task to learn Toddler chess. I like the way you all added a Tips and information. Thanks you. 
“Checkmate at Chess City” by Piers Harper is a good book to help teach how each piece moves. It’s not written for that age group, but you could possibly make it work. I used it with my 4 year old and he understood it fine.
Also there’s “The Right Moves” by Discovery Toys. It’s been discontinued, but it’s still possible to find it. Each piece shows on it how it is able to move and the pieces store inside the folding game board. I think it’s meant for 8 and up, but I think they underestimate just how smart younger kids can be! 