Dear chessfriends,

Any advice on learning chess to a three and a half years old boy.

I am playing Correspondence Chess at Master Class, so my chess skills are good enough in this stage.

I am the proud father of that boy, and I would like to introduce him on our world.

Obviously, not in a competitive way, I just want to use chess as a tool to improve some of his skills.

My first lesson, a couple of days ago was dedicated to have a look to the chess board and to the pieces.

We spent some time counting clear and dark squares. Looking the size of the board and using different paths to join two different squares.

We also Identify pieces, in a fantasy set of pieces (not in a Staunton one)

To my surprise, he was able to identify the King, Queen, Knights (he calls it horses) and Rocket (he call it castles).

But have problems to identify Bishops and Pawns. He identify them sometimes as "Princes" and sometime as Pawns when I told him the name.

He enjoy his first lesson, and the next day he ask me for the chess board and pieces.

And he spent sometime playing (in his own way) with the chess set.

Any advice, experiences, books, ...

Sorry for my not enought-good english, but I am spaniard

Looking forward to your reply,

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Yours Sincerely,

Fausto Alava-Moreno

Age 5 is a more typical age to start learning chess and there was a lovely large picture book (now sadly out of print) that explained the basics of chess in a story.

5 years old is about the age I started with my boys....and it seems an ideal age. There is a real danger in attempting to teach the game before the age of 5 in that when your child is a little older they may then decide that chess is for little babies and they don't want to play it anymore. At age 3.5 they are still at home or somewhere being cared for on an individual basis. At age 5, school is starting and many other changes where they let go of being a toddler...and you wouldn't wish him to discard chess with these changes.

Having said that it's true that every child is different so maybe some are ready for chess at age three.

But it might be better to have a friend around to play chess from time to time....when he can watch but mustn't disturb you! Now perhaps chess becomes a world that he is not yet allowed into...he has to wait until he's older. And when the time is right you will have an eager student who can't wait to learn the rules of chess and sit and play with Dad.

That just my thoughts...hope you find it useful

Also: http://www.chesskids.com/ has some good information for parents.

Good luck

I can't speak from experience I'm afraid. 3.5 seems a bit young. Didn't Capablanca pick up the moves at age 4? I don't know if Susan Polgar's book has been translated into Spanish but you may wish to flick through it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Through-Sisters-Changed-Everyman/dp/1857443810/ref=sr_...

Dear chessfriends,

Thank you for your replies.

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Yours Sincerely,

Fausto Alava-Moreno