Just venting here because I know it’s extremely obnoxious for parents to brag excessively about their kids irl and it needs to go somewhere!
So I have a little girl who just turned 4 a few months ago, and she’s been obsessed with chess in the last month or two (after seeing Anna from Frozen playing chess in a random storybook lol). And I thought, well, chess is probably way too difficult for a kid her age, but no harm introducing the pieces and how they move, right? For context, I’m a bang average player – I was really into chess as a teenager but haven’t played properly for more than a decade, and while I knew the basics of strategy, tactics, and some theory I’m certainly nothing to rave about.
Well, she took to it like a duck to water – after one session, she was setting up the board on her own. I thought that just moving the pieces correctly would be an astounding achievement (especially the knight) but it was no problem, to the extent that she finds forking puzzles using the knight pretty elementary at this point. We’ve been playing most days, and she is playing strategically – she understands that she wants to control the center, to develop her minor pieces, and to castle, she knows how to find forks and pins, she knows to attack defending pieces to win material, she understands that castles want to find empty files, and that she shouldn’t move the queen too early. She’s nowhere near beating a good player of course but for a 4 year old this is mind-boggling. Today we tried blindfold chess for the first time and we actually got to 10 moves or so, at which point I started to struggle to keep track of where everything should be.
Of course, I let her take the lead with her chess interest – I don’t want to push her into it or make it a chore, and when I notice her attention slipping from a game I suggest we call it a day and do something else. She may never be a grandmaster, and she may decide tomorrow that she’s no longer into chess, but I’m so proud I could burst.
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I wish we lived in a world where we would all encourage each other to brag about our kids. I never understood people who hate other parents to do so, it’s not like it takes away their own pride of their own kids.
Understanding chess at such a little age is so impressive, of course you should brag about it !! I would tell the cashier, the baker, the doctor, the teacher, the neighbours…
Stay this awesome parent who’s impressed by their daughter and takes the time to encourage her. I don’t know yall and I’m proud too lol
she’s 4 and already thinking like a little chess wizard? Love that you are just letting her enjoy, no pressure just joy
This made my heart so happy I think I need to log off for the day.
From someone who lost their dad a few years back.
KEEP DOING YOU DADDIO, you’ve got a daddy’s little girl on your hands ❤️
Wow, amazing!
It’s great that you’re encouraging her to pursue this interest in a healthy way.
We underestimate the minds of small children! They are learning and growing at an astonishing pace.
It’s heartwarming to read this. I boast about my granddaughter, but this is next level. Kids are like a sponge at this age
But can she en passant though 🤔
Brag away! Be your proud parental self!
With her being 4 she may be into something completely different tomorrow but if and it is a big if, she keeps up with chess, can you please come back and update us and let us know?
That’s awesome
This is how Grand Masters are made. I loved reading this thank you so much for sharing OP. Long may she have this passion. Chess is not a game it’s strategy and enormously good for the mind.
She may enjoy instructional videos on YouTube. Your library may have DVDs that teach strategy. It’s OK to expose her to lessons that you think to advanced for her. She may pick up more than you expect. At the very least, she will learn that there are both different types of opening moves/strategies and defensive strategies.
You may also want to introduce her to a foreign language. Learning Spanish is a good one and will benefit her developing brain. Maybe play Mozart while she studies and plays.