Chess tips for parents and kids
Friendly, practical guides on helping your child get started, get better and love the game.
Chess for Homeschool Families: A Simple Plan by Age (2026)
How to use chess in a homeschool week: a plan by age, what to record, how homeschoolers play in US Chess events, and when a class is worth paying for.
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Chess Gifts for Kids: What's Worth Buying at Each Age (2026)
Honest chess gift ideas for kids by age and budget: real sets, storybook games, clocks, books and memberships, with current prices and what to skip.
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Chess Rules for Beginners: How to Play, on a Live Board
The rules of chess in plain English: how each piece moves, check, checkmate, draws and the special moves, with live boards. Written for parents teaching a child.
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En Passant in Chess: The Odd Pawn Rule, Explained Simply
En passant lets a pawn capture an enemy pawn that has just moved two squares past it. When it is allowed, why it exists, and a board where you can try it.
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What Is a Good Chess Rating for Kids? How Ratings Work, by Age
What a child's chess rating means, how US Chess and CFC ratings start, real numbers by grade from a national event, and why online ratings don't compare.
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How to Castle in Chess: The Rules, on a Live Board
Castling is the one move where two pieces move at once. How to castle kingside and queenside, the rules, when you can't, and a board where you can try it.
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How to Set Up a Chess Board, Step by Step
How to set up a chess board correctly: white square on the right, rooks in the corners, queen on her own color. A live board shows every step.
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Is WhiteKnight Academy Legit? How to Check Us Before You Pay
Who runs WhiteKnight Academy, how to verify the company and the coaches yourself, how payment and cancellation work, and what we do to keep children safe.
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What Is Stalemate in Chess? Why It's a Draw, and How to Avoid It
Stalemate means the player to move has no legal move but is not in check, so the game is a draw. Examples on a live board, and how not to throw away a win.
Read articleBest Online Chess Classes for Kids (2026): 8 Schools Compared
Online chess classes and lessons for kids, compared by name: 8 live schools with real prices, group sizes and trials, plus the free options. Updated November 2026.
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ChessKid vs a Live Chess Coach: Which Is Better for Your Child?
ChessKid vs a live chess coach: what ChessKid does genuinely well, what a coach adds that an app can't, who should pick which, and how to use both together.
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Kids' Chess Classes in the USA: Times, Prices, US Chess (2026)
How US families fit chess into the school week: after-school times across four time zones, costs in dollars, and how classes connect to US Chess events.
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Chess for Kindergartners — What Actually Works at 4, 5 and 6
Can a kindergartner really learn chess? Usually yes, but not the way older kids do. A straight guide to readiness signs, what to teach first, and when lessons start to pay off.
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Online Chess Classes for Kids in Canada — What's Actually Available in 2026
A Canadian parent's guide to online chess classes for kids: what exists, what the time-zone trap is, what it costs in Canadian dollars, and how to judge a class before you pay.
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The Best After-School Activity for a Thinking Child? Make the Case for Chess
Looking for an after-school activity your child will stick with? Here's the honest case for chess this school year, and how to start online — the first lesson is free and one to one.
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Group vs 1-on-1 Chess Lessons for Kids — Which Is Better?
Group vs private chess lessons for children: for most kids a small group of five or fewer is the better start — here's the honest comparison, costs, and when 1-on-1 wins.
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How Much Do Online Chess Lessons for Kids Cost? (2026 Guide)
Online chess lessons for kids cost from free (self-study) to $100+/hour for private coaching. Here are real 2026 prices, what's included, and what's worth paying for.
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Your Child's First Chess Tournament: A Calm Parent's Guide
A practical guide to your child's first chess tournament — what to pack, how the day works, and how to help them enjoy it without adding pressure.
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The Real Benefits of Chess for Kids: What the Research Says
Does chess make kids smarter? We read the studies. What the evidence supports, what it does not, and the honest reasons chess is worth a child's time.
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The Best Age for Kids to Start Chess
Wondering about the best age to start chess? Most kids can begin around 5–6, but readiness matters more than the number. A friendly guide for parents.
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How to Teach a Child Chess (A Parent's Guide)
A warm, practical guide to how to teach a child chess at home, one step at a time — easy to follow even if you barely play yourself.
Read articleChess Apps vs a Real Coach: What's Best for Kids?
Chess app vs coach — an honest guide for parents, so your child practises happily and actually improves at chess instead of just playing.
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