

Or you might have a bridge that you need a knight to hop across.Īs the game goes on, children are also introduced to puzzles and battles that teach concepts like avoiding capture and delivering checkmate. For instance, you might run into barriers in a corner that force you to squeeze through diagonally with a bishop. The trick is that the characters in the game are chess pieces that can only traverse the world map in the way that piece moves in chess.



Magnus’ Kingdom of Chess is a very cool RPG - named after world chess champion Magnus Carlsen - designed to subconsciously teach kids how to play chess while having fun. Update: Magnus’ Kingdom of Chess is now known as Dragonbox Learn Chess in the app store. This app is truly a no-brainer for young chess fans. The app also features a fantastic crash course on how the pieces move and how to deliver checkmate. Essential concepts are explained alongside cartoon animations that engage kids in learning chess better than anything I’ve ever seen. And I couldn’t possibly recommend it any more highly if your kids want to get better at chess.įunMaster Mike’s instructional videos for kids are second to none. But if you want unrestricted access to the puzzles, videos, and lessons, you’ll need to sign up for a gold membership. You also get a small allotment of daily puzzles. You can sign up for a free account and play as many games as you want. I’ve used the website for many years as a teacher, and I don’t know what I’d do without it.ĬhessKid is owned by, so if you’re familiar with their website, a lot of things are structured the same. (Chess for Kids - Play & Learn)Ĭ is simply the most essential chess app for kids who are trying to improve at chess. But the vast majority are actually chess apps that we enjoy together - and he was very helpful in identifying his favorite for this article.ġ. Some of the games in my chess apps folder on my iPad are designed and better suited for kids like my 7-year-old son. I’ve come across many favorite books, many favorite websites, and I’ve even amassed a sizable collection of my favorite chess apps. Over the years, I’ve collected a sizable number of chess tools to add to my collection - both as a player and as a teacher. It’s sometimes considered an art, sometimes a sport, and sometimes a science. It’s something you can literally study your entire life and always have more to learn. I’m passionate about the benefits of teaching chess to kids, and I deeply believe it’s extremely positive for cognitive development, particularly when it comes to the frontal lobe and the development of executive functions.īut that’s all ignoring the fact that the game is simply fun and entirely engrossing. I also love to share the game with my 7-year-old son and my 3-year-old daughter (obviously in very different ways and to very different degrees).
