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 teaching children to play chess
My dad did..he was a good player..but went wrong teaching me.he also taught my sister i think we were about 12 years old.
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My nephew learned when he was 2. He did grow up to become a quantum physicist, though and when he was 6 I taught him how to play cribbage and after one practice game, he beat me everytime. Oh, when he was 2 though, all of the pieces could move like rocket ships and often blasted off the board into outer space. He really could manage when he was about 6. My brothers and I learned when we were 6-ish, but none of us are great players. My son learned in grade one and he came in third in the province for Grade 12 students. In the schools, good programs start in grade 1 (ages 5-6) and all of the top players learned at home when they were 3-4.
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Not sure how early is too early but I do know that children at age 6 can learn the game (not
just how to move the pieces). At age 10 they have the mental capacity to be very strong. I
have been teaching Elementary age children for 23 years now and my favorite grades are 4th
and kindergarten (roughly age 10 and 5 or 6).
Maybe age 4 is too early but I'm not sure. It certainly does depend on the individuals maturity.
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My grandson started learning at 10, within 6 months he was beating me.... grandpa on the other hand is much better and he doesnt ever win with him. I learned the pieces names and their moves when I was six, but didnt play an actual game for a few years. Wish Id played more back then, maybe Id be better at planning & problem solving.
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I remember watching my older brothers play chess when I was very young; I think around 8.
I distinctly recall feeling very envious and wanting to play with them too... I was stuck playin' checkers and used to look at the chess pieces with curiosity.
I learned chess from a coworker, in my 30's. I was so excited on that day as he was an excellent teacher and I understood the game quickly... I have been playing ever since and have experimented with almost every online chess site. GK is the best of 'em.
So, my feelings are this: kids should be exposed to chess at a very early point in their lives. From there, they will want to emulate others (you) and learn as well... I know this is the case with my 13 yr old stepdaughter. Watching me play all these years, has piqued her interest.
It turns out, she felt intimidated... Once she learned the basics, however, she was excited as I was on that fateful day... She did not "take" to the game and continue to play as I had hoped, though. Some get tha chess bug, some don't.
Ehh, meatball sandwich.
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MrMarmalade... I was envious too and stuck playing checkers, I can relate.
When my grandson plays, he doesnt take his eyes off the board for a second, his breathing changes, his facial expressions are intense...he's 12 and LOVES to play me. We have plans of getting him on gameknot someday since we dont live close.
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Getting relatives who live outside of your immediate area, on GK, is an excellent idea... Both for the obvious reason of communications AND the skills he will develop as a "thinker." I would do this sooner, rather than later.
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And if the lad is any good, we can make him a Pirate.
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Once he has his own computer (christmas), we will be able to get him signed up... I know he will love it. Thats a big highlight of his visits here is playing chess. AND I was surprised to find he's teaching his 8 year old sister. She controls the pieces pretty good, but the knights are confusing for her. She does good for her age tho!
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I just realized he will be an Underdog, if he takes ta team play... I wouldn't match him against a Crab; those folks have no class.
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lol Who let the dogs out?!?! Arf arf arf arf..... I have nothing against crabs , unless they are the crawling itchy type. He better not go there! lol
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Crab Class
HEY!
I resemble that
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"unless they are the crawling itchy type."
-I'm sad to report we are not dealing with Alaskan King.
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That is great to get both of those kids started young. Try this website for training/teaching tools:
www.chesskids.com
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Thanks for the link Kneil!!
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Also, find out if their school(s) have a chess club. If not, see if the local USCF can send a package and/or resource person to help a teacher get one started. There is nothing like school tournaments and regular play to get kids bitten by the chess bug!
And... going out on a limb here, but if any of you former teachers out there would be willing, your local elementary, middle or high schools could use a guest chess master to get kids going full speed with their chess. Just contact your local school and ask to speak with the teacher who runs the chess club and let the party begin!!!! From the experience I've had with my chess club over the years, the kids love it when an "expert" shows up.
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As my former principal used to say, "The best way to predict the future is to create it." I'm sure he stole from someone. Maybe JC knows the source of the quote.
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Love the quote! I'll remember that one.
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My principal used to tell me, "Unless you can REALLY justify giving an 'F' you better change that grade to a 'C.'"
When I was a student, my principal would say, "That'll be two days of in-school suspension, Mister!"
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pennsylvaniadan
23-Jul-12, 10:08
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My principal used to say to me "bend over and grab you ankles" as he pulled the paddle with drilled holes in it from behind his back. I hated teachers for a long time until Miss Littlefield who taught Spanish in the 9th grade---oooo-la-la
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Interesting statement, Penndan...
I also greatly disliked many of my former teachers. It wasn't until I became one, myself, that I truly realized how decent most of 'em were... O' the wallops across the head I received by a great many of them.
A Study Hall "teacher," once calmly walked over to me with a massive dictionary in his hand. He hit me so hard over the head that I saw stars and heard that familiar ringing in my brain for five minutes. In those five minutes, however, the man had peace and quiet.
It was a better system, I believe.
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pennsylvaniadan
23-Jul-12, 10:19
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My wife of 41 years teaches ----so I wasn't permanently damaged----lol
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I also started a fight while waiting for the departing buses in the 8th grade... As I was squaring up to move in, a security guard stepped between myself and the other student.
The guy open-palm punched me across the bridge of my nose, sending me sprawling to the pavement; stunned and confused.
I received two days out-of-school suspension for that one... The man who hit me, carried on with his normal functions... I was angry about that for a long time... Now, I realize how badly it was deserved.
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Damn, off topic again. Somebody needs to moderate me. Okay, back to teaching chess to children.
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pennsylvaniadan
23-Jul-12, 10:29
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I won my 7th grade Chess tournament in 1963. I beat the classmate that taught me how to play---lol
One of the quotes on my homepage is "Teach your Children well. Scrap the Play-Stations and make them learn to play Chess".
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@MrM
Principals don't ask you to change Fs to Cs anymore... they just go ahead and do it themselves. Actually, it is true, but rarely happens, but then again I teach Spanish, so it's pretty hard to not pass my class.
You really have to apply yourself not to progress past Sesame Street Spanish. French is bit different. They have already had between 6 and 10 years of French before I get them (often it's 6 to 10 repeats of the same course, but they sure know their colours and numbers... well to 30 anyway)... But I digress... If they feel they are not coping or performing, they just drop the course and move on. So, if you don't count withdrawals, everyone passes. And, they really can speak Spanish or French when they are done at least to the satisfaction of the Dept. Ed. which means A1 level, if you are familiar with the European Framework, by the end of level 1 and A2-B1 by the end of Grade 12. I am not sure what the equivalent would be in the US system, but since there are 6 levels in the European Framework and 8 or 9 in the US system, I'm guessing level 2-3.
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@MrM
I can see by your comments that you started your pirate career early.
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@Kneilca...
Yes, my training began early; @ around 3 yrs., of age.
About the only thing that has eluded me, thus far, is a major arrest, followed by either A: Plea bargain- reduced sentencing OR B: Trial, followed by a two year bit.
-I'm amazed that I've been able to evade the criminal justice system.
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My Uncle Pete, the Pirate
My uncle and godfather, Pete (God rest his soul) has a pirate. He dropped out of school early and left the family farm to work various construction jobs. When he was a teen he tried to tame a coyote (failure, not likely possible), used to drop field mice into his sister's (my mom's) pockets as a practical joke and generally caused mayhem and belly laughs everywhere he went. When I was old enough to get into the bars (18 where I grew up) he'd take me to the "beer parlour" and we'd have a stubby of Black Label or stoudt. He was still getting into bar fights well into his fifties and was often brought into a racist rage when his swarthy gypsy looks would be mistaken for being First Nations (or "Indian", as he would put it). Racist, sexist, homophobic, alcoholic, aggressive. Funny, hard-working, a competent carpenter (he built his own summer cottage in the Fishing Lakes in the Qu'Appelle valley by first tearing down two Wartime houses, mixing and pouring his own concrete foundation and then re-using the reclaimed lumber), loved animals, generous and kind-hearted. He died 30 years ago ravaged by lung cancer brought on by a lifetime of chain-smoking, impoverished and proud at a government-subsidized paliative care facility 50 km from where he grew up and spent almost all of his days, in Regina, Saskatchewan.
If you have a mug of grog handy, raise your glass to Uncle Pete, my favourite pirate. May he rest in peace.
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A worthy man ta raise a glass to, I sez... Good story @Kneilca.
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