How to teach a 7 yr old?

I have a 7yr old that enjoys playing chess. I am not much of a player, so getting close to what I can teach him :0

I am looking for something that teaches him at his level. He can read, but would have difficulty with technical things. I have been building my skills along the way with him, but would like something that is more visual for him.

Any ideas?

I recommend to start with Volume 1 of Lev Alburt's "Comprehensive Chess Course"......the book is targeted especially to young children, as a very first introduction to chess.....however, you should be the teacher....i.e. learn the lessons yourself, then work together with, and teach them to your child....

https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Chess-Course-Lessons-Enlarged/dp/1889323233/ref=sr_1_1?crid=90U0OSARYBEE&keywords=comprehensive+chess+course&qid=1576181815&s=books&sprefix=comprehensive+chess%2Cstripbooks%2C202&sr=1-1

After completing Volume 1 of the Lev Alburt course, I highly recommend to next work through "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" with your child.  Again, first learning the (very easy) lesson(s) yourself (as your go), then sit together with the child and guide them through it....I did this with my 8-year old daughter (years ago)....it's a very good first book of chess, easy and quick to work through...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/bobby-fischer-teaches-chessa-book-review

https://www.amazon.com/Bobby-Fischer-Teaches-Chess/dp/0553263153/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1DEDQMJEDSZI2&keywords=bobby+fischer+teaches+chess&qid=1576182273&s=books&sprefix=bobby+fische%2Cstripbooks%2C199&sr=1-3

you can optionally supplement the above books with the introductory "Learn Chess" by GM John Nunn.....a 7-year old will not read it, but it will help you with your chess understanding...

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Chess-John-Nunn/dp/1901983307/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=learn+chess+john+nunn&qid=1576182527&s=books&sr=1-1

Finally, after completing the recommendations above, for follow-on instructional material, you (i.e., your child) could move on to Volume 2 of the Lev Alburt Comprehensive Chess Course, or choose to work with any of the titles I recommend for beginners in the following lists...

Beginners Chess Courses, Lessons, Instructional Resources...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/beginners-chess-course-instructional-resources

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

As I've alluded, it's essential to work together with your child and guide him through the lessons.  Do not expect him to work on these lessons alone, else he will very likely get discouraged quickly and abandon the effort.....it goes without saying as well that lots of positive feedback from the parent works wonders for the child's motivation....

Good luck...

Coakley books:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094112/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review332.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110137/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review570.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234342/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review754.pdf

In my opinion, while the Coakley books are excellent, very instructive chess books, targeted to the chess novice, in spite of their use of kiddie cartoon characters in an attempt to appeal to children, the books are in fact too advanced for 7 year olds who are just starting out in chess.  I have them all and am very familiar with their content.

For a 7 year old, it would be better to begin with the books and the approach I have recommended above.  The Coakley books would certainly be useful once the beginner gains some experience playing the game, say, once he reaches about 1100-1200 ELO.

By the way, a good, safe site specifically for young children who want to play chess online with other kids, check out ChessKid.com.  It is run by Chess.com.

I'm currently learning the very basics of chess to my 5 years old boy. As I don't want him to use computer I try to translate the ChessKid.com courses in a kiddie french language and it seem to work out well.

"... [Winning Chess Strategy for Kids] is a comprehensive chess course written for children 7 to 13 years old. … It covers the rules of play, basic mates and elementary tactics. Then it leads the student through a whole range of more advanced strategies, including piece development, pawn structure, and attacking the castled king. Finally opening principles, middlegame plans, and endgame techniques are all explained in clear and simple language for easy comprehension. ..."

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094112/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review332.pdf

I believe the Chess Steps workbooks are way better than the usual books for kids....there is minimal theory for reading and they end up learning by doing, which seems completely fine at this age in my opinion.

https://www.chess-steps.com/home.php

Coakley's books seem good for kids as well, but they are not for complete beginners I guess....they probably start at around Step 2 from the steps method.

I've also seen Coach Jay's chess academy, which also seems to have a good system, similar to that of the chess steps...but I haven't used this coach jay material, so cannot judge very well...they seem interesting 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

the chess steps method even have a manual for the teacher / tutor with info about how to prepare classes, how kids learn, etc.

Carrot and stick. And forget about carrot.

Thanks for all the replies. 

I looked at a number of the books recommended. I suspect they would be good for me to go further, but he isn't ready for those yet.

He responded to the dancing robot on chesskids really well, but it only lasted a couple games as we couldn't figure out how to get it to let him past level 3.

So we played the regular chess.com one a bit. It is good, he is prob level 4-5 by the looks of it. That one isn't as fun for him though.

Over the holiday, we have played a couple games a day, and watched a number of videos on traps and the like. They have kept him interested.

We also got a chinese chess board. Sometimes we play it at the same time as chess with one person in the hot seat. fun.

Maybe there would be something helpful in a 2013 Silman article, called Dinos to the Slav.

http://www.uschess.org/content/view/12291/719/

Fritz and Chester will teach your kid. Expect him to crush you within a year.

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Play-Chess-Fritz-Chesster/dp/B00604IF5C

I run a chess club at my school.

As we only have 45 minutes together I always start with a basic idea (a tactic, strategy or a specific rule) and then get them playing. The more they play the better they will learn. 

I would love to go deeper in to the strategies and tactics but there's not enough time. We have been continuously going over the same ideas in the hope that the repetitiveness will help the children remember while they are playing.