Look for best way to teach children

So I never really got to play chess (very blue-collar household) but I've always regretted not learning how to play. It was never really anyone's fault, my mother was a homemaker with three kids all less than 2 years a part in age and my dad was a union guy who would rather bond over football and rugby than books and games such as chess.

 

However, I would like to teach my kids the game (use it as a bonding experience). Of course, this is a bit of a problem, because I don't really know the game myself. I've been posting on a number of forums looking for a resource to either quickly learn the game myself and then get better as I go or find something that I can use to teach my kids and myself at the same time. 

 

I cam across a game called QuickChess, which is a board game that is also now running some sort of Kickstarter campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1953071170/quickchess-25-years-multi-award-winning-game-goes). It looks like an ok place to start, but I'm by no means married to it. Is this something that will help me learn enough to begin to teach my kids? Or is there another, stronger avenue that I can pursue?

Look at these links:

https://www.chesskid.com/learn-how-to-play-chess.html

http://chesslessons4beginners.com/tactics/lesson-9-chess-tricks-basic-tactics.htm

https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Childs-Play-Teaching-Techniques/dp/193627731X

https://www.amazon.com/How-Beat-Your-Chess-Gambit/dp/1901983056

https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Tactics-Kids-Murray-Chandler/dp/1901983994

https://www.amazon.com/World-Champions-Guide-Chess-Step/dp/0812936531

http://www.uiltexas.org/files/capitalconference/Randolph-TeachingChesstheEasyFunWaywithMiniGames.pdf

http://kidchess.com/play-chess/knights-tour/

 

After you learn the rule of chess, the best way you can improve your game is by solving tactics problems. Solve tactics problems appropriate for you. You should also play games.

 

Teach these in order

how pieces move

teach capture

value of pieces(queen=9 points, rook=5, bishop/knight=3,pawn=1). 

how the game is won by mate

two rook against a lone king endgame mate

castling

show some basic mates and tactics like pin and fork.

 

Once they learn basic tactics, let  them solve some puzzles. If they can't get the answer after trying for 5 minutes(or more) show the solution.

 

Word's Champion Guide to Chess by Polgar is a good book for beginner tactical puzzles. Let them play other kids as this will make them appreciate chess more. If they lost a game, tell them it is part of learning process. Join tournaments as this will also motivate them and make them appreciate chess more. Make learning process fun and you should teach them 30 minutes max. If they ask for more time, then teach them more.

 

 

 

How old are your kids?  For age 5 and under, maybe 6 and under, the third link from jambyvedar points you at a really good book.  

set up tactic and mate puzzles for them to figure out to get out of chores if solved

Get the book, Chess is Child's Play, and learn alongside your kids with the games recommended in the book. The other posters so far misread your question and/or know nothing about children. I have been a chess player since I was a child in the 1960s, taught all my children to play when I knew nothing about teaching chess in the 1990s, and have taught at least one thousand kids from other homes since 2000. I have and like Chess is Child's Play, but the advice mostly doesn't work for groups of students, which is usually how I teach. You could look at my blog for ideas about how to teach groups, but for teaching your own kids, Chess is Child's Play is by far the best resource.

I strongly recommend "Soviet Chess Primer" (Quality Chess)

Please elaborate.

I sense long winded humor

 

but in the case that the OP is really genuine. the first task is to learn how to play chess.  it isn't hard.  an adult can pick up the general idea in 30 minutes, less if he is familiar with checkers.

 

remembering how each peice moves is the first task, and being vigilant about checks is harder.

 

beginners often play positions that are completely impossible because they did not recognize they were under "checK"  (meaning their king was attacked)

 

those two tasks will take an evening.  as with everything once you play a game- the second game will be easier. 

 

there are several beginner friendly ways of getting a game.if you can get into a friendly game with someone that is good at chess- this is probably the best way to proceed.  as an absolute beginner, I'm sure that whoever plays you can take the time to explain things a little and give you a few hints, rather than just concentrate on winning.

 

There are some good replies here. I am compelled to add that you should not make the mistake of teaching pawn movement before piece movement. Children are bored by the simplicity and restriction of the pawns and can apply their feelings of boredom to the whole game, leading to disinterest. Teach the pieces first, starting with the queen. When introducing the next pieces, illustrate how these pieces limit the mobility/freedom of the queen. Work from freest to most limited pieces (Q, R, N, B) always with a king on the board. If they are enjoying the study, you can then add the pawns (if they're not, stop teaching them chess). Illustrate how pawns create, in part, the landscape in which the rest of the pieces move. Because the child has been learning about restricted movement, they will understand one of the primary purposes of pawns easily (blocking). This will save them years of time learning how to use their pawns, which is something many people never truly understand.

Get the game called No Stress Chess. This will teach the basic movements without really playing chess rules too strictly. And it’s pretty good 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/

Rattan cane