How to Introduce Your Child to Chess (Even If You Don't Play)
You want your child to learn chess. You've read about the benefits, you're convinced it's worthwhile, but there's one problem: you don't play yourself. I understand that this puts you in an awkward position. How do you teach something you don't know? Where do you even start? Do you need to learn the game first, or can you somehow guide your child without that knowledge?
The answer might be surprising. There is no need to be a chess player. Thousands of parents introduce their kids to chess successfully every year, and the methods are straightforward once you know what's available.
Your role isn't to become a chess instructor. You're going to be a facilitator - someone who connects your child with the right resources, creates opportunities for learning, and provides encouragement along the way. Think of it like signing your child up for swimming lessons. You don't need to be a swimming coach to help them become a swimmer.
This guide will show the practical steps you need to take. You'll learn which learning platforms work best, how to choose physical materials, where to find proper instruction, and how to support your child as they develop this skill.
1. Learn chess together
One of the most effective ways to introduce a child to chess is learning alongside them. This approach works better than many parents expect.
When both of you start as beginners, it creates a shared experience. There's no pressure on either person to already know the answers. Mistakes become something to figure out together rather than failures to hide. Children often respond well to seeing adults learn new things - it shows them that learning is a lifelong process, not just something that happens at school.
The method also removes performance anxiety. If a child thinks their parent already knows everything about chess, they might feel pressured to learn quickly or embarrassed when they make mistakes. Starting from the same point levels the playing field.
Before diving in, familiarise yourself with basic terminology. The board has 64 squares arranged in an 8x8 grid. Each player starts with 16 pieces:
* One king;
* One queen;
* Two rooks;
* Two bishops;
* Two knights;
* Eight pawns.
The objective is to checkmate the opponent's king - trapping it so it can't escape capture. That's the foundation. Everything else builds from there.
Set realistic expectations from the start. Neither you nor your child needs to become an expert or competitive player. Chess can be a casual hobby, an occasional mental exercise, or simply a fun activity to share. The goal is exposure and basic competence, not mastery.
Time commitment matters, especially with younger children. Ages 4-7 typically manage 15-20 minutes of focused chess activity before attention wanders. Ages 8-12 can usually handle 30-45 minutes. Short, regular sessions work better than long, infrequent ones.
2. Try digital learning platforms and apps
Digital platforms have transformed how children learn chess. They offer structured lessons, instant feedback, and the ability to practice independently - all without requiring parental expertise.
ChessKid.com
This platform is purpose-built for young learners and remains the gold standard for children's chess education. The platform structures learning through a clear pathway, starting with how pieces move and progressing to basic tactics and strategy. Video lessons feature child-friendly presenters who explain concepts at an appropriate pace.
Safety features make it suitable for independent use. The chat system is moderated, and you can control who your child interacts with through parent dashboard settings. This dashboard also tracks progress, showing which lessons they've completed and how they're performing in puzzles.
The adaptive difficulty system adjusts to your child's skill level automatically. If they're breezing through puzzles, the platform increases difficulty. If they're struggling, it provides easier challenges to rebuild confidence. This means children can work at their own pace without needing constant adult supervision.
Age-appropriate puzzles and mini-games keep engagement high. Rather than jumping straight into full games (which can feel overwhelming), children build skills through focused exercises. The subscription model costs around £40 annually for the Gold membership.
Lichess.org
Lichess offers a completely free alternative with no advertisements. The interface is clean and straightforward, making it easy for children to navigate. The puzzle database is extensive, with thousands of tactical positions sorted by difficulty level.
Practice mode lets children play against a computer at adjustable strength levels. Beginners can start with an opponent that makes obvious mistakes, then gradually increase difficulty as skills improve. The analysis board feature allows reviewing completed games to see where mistakes happened - useful for learning, though younger children may need help interpreting the feedback.
Registration isn't required for basic features, though creating a free account enables progress tracking. This makes Lichess an excellent option for testing whether your child enjoys chess before committing to a paid subscription elsewhere.
Magnus Trainer app
This app deserves a mention as a cautionary example. Despite featuring branding from Magnus Carlsen (the world champion), the app hasn't received updates since 2021. Users report frequent crashes, bugs that prevent progress, and features that simply don't work. While this app has been featured elsewhere, we do not recommend it.
When choosing between platforms, consider your child's age and learning style. ChessKid works particularly well for children under 10 who benefit from structured guidance and game-based learning. Lichess suits older children or those who prefer exploring independently. You can use both - many families start with ChessKid's structured approach, then add Lichess for additional practice.
Platform analytics help you monitor progress. Checking in weekly to see which lessons your child completed or how their puzzle rating has changed provides insight into their development. This beats asking "how's chess going?" which often gets a shrug in response.
3. Get some physical resources and materials
Digital tools are great, but physical sets and books offer something different. Moving real pieces and flipping through pages gives kids a hands-on learning experience that screens can’t match.
When choosing a chess set, consider your child’s age. Younger children usually do better with larger pieces they can grip easily. Standard sets with 2-inch squares work well from age 7, but younger ones may need something bigger. Weighted pieces help prevent tipping but add weight if you’re taking the set on the go.
For beginners, vinyl roll-up boards are a solid choice. They’re cheap, tough, and easy to store. Wooden boards cost more but feel nicer to use and can last for years — ideal if your child’s interest in chess is likely to stick.
Magnetic travel sets are useful for holidays or car rides, but they’re small and not ideal for long play at home. Themed sets (like Harry Potter or superheroes) can make chess more exciting at first, but the extra detail might distract some kids. It depends on your child — some focus better with simple, standard pieces.
For some, books can be more helpful than apps. Kids can study at their own pace, re-read tricky parts, and use them without screens.
* Ages 4-6: Picture books with stories that introduce piece movement.
* Ages 7-9: Basic workbooks with diagrams, puzzles, and clear instructions.
* Ages 10+: Books that cover openings, tactics, and endgames with more depth.
Good options include “Chess for Children” by Chandler and Milligan, and “1001 Chess Exercises for Beginners”.
4. Consider coaching and community support
At some point, your child will benefit from proper coaching. While apps and books provide foundational learning, a qualified teacher offers personalised feedback, corrects bad habits before they solidify, and structures progression more effectively than self-directed learning allows.
Chess clubs
School chess clubs are often the most accessible option. Many primary and secondary schools run chess clubs during lunch breaks or after school. These sessions typically happen once weekly and cost £5 - £10 per session.
To find out if your child's school offers chess, speak with the head teacher or whoever coordinates extra-curricular activities. If no club exists, you might discover the school would start one if there's sufficient interest.
After-school chess programmes also run independently of schools. These are organised by private companies or chess organisations and typically use school premises but operate as separate entities. They tend to be more structured than informal school clubs, with qualified instructors leading sessions.
Private coaching
Private coaching offers the most personalised approach. One-on-one lessons allow tutors to identify specific weaknesses, adapt teaching pace to the child's learning speed, and provide immediate correction of mistakes.
You can find qualified tutors through word of mouth (by asking at school clubs or online parent forums), local chess organisations, online tutoring platforms, or simply by searching on Google. When choosing a coach, look for someone who’s good at teaching kids, not just someone with a high rating or big titles. A grandmaster might be a poor teacher for beginners if they can't remember what it's like not to understand basic concepts. A coach who knows how to teach kids well usually helps them improve more than a top-level player does.
Pay attention to their teaching style, some instructors are patient and encouraging, others more demanding and direct. Keep in mind, what works for one child frustrates another. Taking a trial chess session is a great idea to start with and understand if there is a good match between your child and the coach.
Finding the right chess coach isn’t always easy, so you might consider looking for online sessions. If you are interested in trying online chess lessons for kids, I highly recommend looking into Mindful Chess. They have a wide variety of coaches with experience teaching children and offer a money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied with the session. Your payment will be refunded, and you’ll also have the opportunity to take a free session with another coach.
Chess camps
Chess camps and workshops are a great way for kids to learn intensively during school holidays. Half-term programs might run for three mornings in a row, with a few hours of lessons each day. Weekend camps usually pack everything into Saturday and Sunday. Summer chess camps can be either day camps or residential ones, where kids stay overnight and enjoy other fun activities alongside chess.
These programs are perfect for children who already know the basics and want to improve faster. The focused schedule lets them dive deeper into the game than they could in a regular weekly class.