Chess training tips for children: a guide for parents

Children who enjoy chess keep coming back, and children who keep coming back improve. A few habits help.

Children improve fastest by solving short puzzles every day rather than playing only long games.

Writing down moves and going over a lost game with the coach teaches more than winning a quick one.

What to bring: a chess set and a notebook to record games, a water bottle and a small snack. Ask the coach before buying expensive equipment; beginners rarely need it.

At home, praise effort rather than results, keep practice short and regular, and make sure your child sleeps well before a training day.

The chess academy at Mayo International School in Patparganj is open to children from other schools as well as Mayo students. Sessions run before and after school hours, the first session is a free trial, and school transport is available — ask the office about your stop. Book a trial on the academy page: /chess-academy-in-east-delhi