The new junior chess season started in September and only four of my regular afternoon clubs have reopened.

Hello there, and I’m so glad that you’ve made it to my website to find out more about chess and how your child can learn how to play.  I know it can be sometimes difficult to find an activity that your child will enjoy, so if your child has an interest in chess, I’ll be delighted to teach them how to play when you bring them along. You’ll be pleased to know that I only teach children – in schools and my junior clubs – and that I’ve had a clear and current DBS certificate for many years.

NEW CHESS CLASS FOR HOMESCHOOLED CHILDREN IN ADDISCOMBE

A new chess class for homeschooled children started in July and takes place every Wednesday at 10.30am in the morning.  There’s a large community of parents in Croydon who teach their children at home, so if you do too, you are very welcome to bring your children along to join in to learn how to play. Please contact me by email at rwchessacademy@hotmail.co.uk or on 07538 035896 for a chat or more information.

Addiscombe Homeschool Chess Class
Beverley Hall, between 89 – 91 Grant Road,
Croydon, CR0 6PJ
Wednesdays 10.30am to 12.30pm
£10.00 per session but children who attend school can come along during school breaks and holidays.

If your child, or a child you know wants to learn chess, you could encourage them to join a junior chess club in SE London. Places are available Click To Tweet

Yes, you can learn chess at any age, but I normally provide lessons to children aged 6 years plus who are homeschooled and children who attend school in South East London.

There’s so much evidence that shows how children who play chess perform better in school, gain an improved calculating ability, are more imaginative, creative, self-motivated and problem-solve so much easier.

Playing chess challenges the minds of both girls & boys and it really is a fun game that all children can play quite well.

A short introduction to starting chess

It’ll be brilliant for your child to find out more about chess, and when you bring them along to one of the junior clubs, they’ll get a warm welcome from me every time.

If your child is not yet familiar with the rules of chess, I’ll show them and let them know that chess is a fun mind game where a battle takes place between two players called Black and White. The battle happens on a chessboard which has 64 dark and light squares. I’ll guide them on how to turn the board around so there is a light square in the bottom right-hand corner and they’ll then have a go at setting up the chessmen correctly. Have a look at the board below with numbers and letters around the edges. One player puts the white chessmen on rows (Ranks) 1 & 2 and the other player puts the black chessmen on rows (Ranks) 7 & 8.

There are 8 white pieces and 8 white Pawns.  In the lower left-hand corner on square a1 the chessman that looks like a castle is called a Rook.   Next to the Rook we have the horse’s head we call a Knight on b1, then a Bishop on c1, a Queen on d1 and the King on e1.  Next to the King we then have one more Bishop on f1, another Knight on g1 and another Rook on h1. In front of these 8 pieces on Rank number 1 are 8 Pawns on Rank number 2.  The player with the Black chessmen has the same number of pieces on Rank 8 and Pawns on Rank number7.

There are just a few children that can play chess at 4 or 5 years old. However, I usually accept girls and boys from 6 years old at my chess clubs. Click To Tweet

This is just a quick intro to the chessmen and the board and what to do at the start of a game. There’s so much more that your child will learn, so as soon as they join up I can introduce them to lots more. Come along when you can and check out the nearest junior chess club to you that suits the busy activities timetable you’ve created for your child.

Here’s hoping you can fit chess lessons into that!

I’m also trying to increase the number of girls that learn to play chess too.  So if you have a daughter that wants to have a go, please bring her along to join in as well.

If you’d like to buy an easy to read beginners chess book I usually recommend this book as the one to purchase,

I

Girls can play chess just as good as boys when they’re encouraged to join in and have a go.

Chess players that keep practicing and work at it, improve their ‘soft skills’ and develop more confidence to face other life challenges as well.

And when it’s their turn to move, the thinking skills they’ve developed encourages them to choose the next best move as part of their overall plan of action.

Playing chess also helps children to improve strategic and analytical thinking skills. In a chess game, you have to rely on your own knowledge and skills.  There is no luck involved whatsoever as you have to make all the decisions by yourself.  Chess is pure skill and this ability improves and increases, the more your child practices. And it’s good to have a crazy teacher who will stimulate and engage your child too.