Tips on teaching 10 year old kid

My son always asks me to play chess and I really want him to improve. I am slowly pointing out to him the general principles like development, controlling the center, etc. but I am not sure if this is the correct way to teach him as it become "stiff" for him and not enjoyable anymore. Should I introduce to him the different openings or just let him move "on instinct"? 

I can see that he can create plans but his problem is he ignores my own plan and just go on and executes his own and in the process hangs a lot of pieces. 

Any tips will be much appreciated!

- this is sick but - years ago my local chess club played a tournament in a ritzy place - and they got titled players there - well first two players were kids - I won against both of the kids - then my next games I played adults and I lost every game I played against the adults ( lost badly ) - well some things can be traumatic and kids need psychological training to get schools learn life and succeed in LIFE - NOT CHESS - SUCCEED IN LIFE - NOT CHESS - chess don't put food on the table - on beating both kids - BOTH KIDS BURST OUT CRYING - one father asked for tips ( chess ) for his kid after we played - I said to forget chess teach him priorities - attitudes - strong mind - to face the world and face life - crying over chess game - without getting his head straight - might win in chess - but be a loser in life - and wind up living with his parents forever ( but good at chess ) - like I cannot not express it right - but I am trying to explain kid has to be taught that chess is just a game - no more no less - just a game -  now on the other hand life ...........

I am surprised if nobody has yet mentioned Winning Chess Strategy for Kids by Jeff Coakley
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094112/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review332.pdf
in this thread. It has often been suggested in the past around here. If the book is a success, one could also try Winning Chess Puzzles for Kids, Vol. 1 by Jeff Coakley,
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110137/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review570.pdf
Winning Chess Puzzles for Kids, Vol. 2 by Jeff Coakley, and Winning Chess Exercises for Kids by Jeff Coakley.
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234342/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review754.pdf
Other possibilities (if interest persists) include:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf

http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1949)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Journey to the Chess Kingdom by GM Yuri Averbakh and Mikhail Beilin
https://www.chess.com/blog/Natalia_Pogonina/book-review-quotjourney-to-the-chess-kingdomquot

So your son just wants to play but you want him to improve ? Am I getting this right ?

My suggestion would be to just let him play and have fun until he expresses an interest in understanding why is he losing and how to improve himself.

Also, if you feel that things become "stiff" because of your explanations, then you probably try to make stuff sound too serious for a child. T

Try to give him less information at once and make his mind seek the answers for himself. For example, you could casually remark on a single opening principle in an off-hand remark and let him try to figure out what you meant by himself.

This will make him feel like he is discovering one of your secrets as opposed to feeling he has to learn strange and abstract concepts that he doesnt understand yet as a sort of homework. 

Thank you guys, your advice are very much appreciated! He intends to join a competition next year hence he is practicing with me and I really want to help him improve.  

I am a National Master with 10+ years of teaching experience; for more information about me, see www.premierchess.com and www.facebook.com/premierchess. Email erabin66@gmail.com to set up a free 30 minute consultation.