A weekly chess class is a great start, but children who practise a little between classes improve much faster. The good news: home practice does not need to be long, and you do not need to play chess to help.

Here is a simple routine that takes about 20 minutes a day, and the three kinds of practice that make the biggest difference.

The three kinds of practice

  • Puzzles train the eye to spot tactics and checkmates. They are short, so they fit into any day.
  • Games put everything together. Slow games teach more than fast ones.
  • Looking back at a game, even for five minutes, shows your child the moment things went wrong, so the same mistake happens less often.

Start every day with a puzzle

Puzzles are the single best habit for young players. Five puzzles a day does more than one long session at the weekend. Try this one: White to move. Can you win Black's rook?

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move: find the move that attacks the king and the rook at the same time.

White to move. Make your move on the board.

Tap a piece, then tap where it should go, or drag it.

The knight jumps to c7. It gives check and attacks the rook at the same time, so Black must move the king and White takes the rook next. This trick is called a fork, and once your child sees it, they will look for it in every game. There is a free daily chess puzzle on our website, and many more on our learn chess for free page.

A simple weekly routine

  • Monday: 5 puzzles, then one slow game.
  • Tuesday: class day, or replay one idea from the last class.
  • Wednesday: 5 puzzles, then look back at Monday's game together.
  • Thursday: one slow game against a family member or the computer.
  • Friday: 5 puzzles and a short, fun game.
  • Weekend: a family game or an online tournament, and a day off.

How to look back at a game (even if you don't play)

After a game, ask your child to show you the moment they were happiest and the moment they were worried. Ask, "What did you want to do here? What was the other player threatening?" You do not need to know the answer. Just asking makes your child think about the game again, and that is where the learning happens.

Keep it fun

  • Keep a small chart on the fridge and add a star for each day of practice.
  • Celebrate good moves, not only wins.
  • Let your child teach you a new idea from class. Teaching is a powerful way to learn.
  • Take days off. A rested child learns more than a tired one.

If your child is learning on their own and you would like a coach to guide them, our small online classes give homework puzzles that fit this routine. Book a free demo class to try one.

Questions parents and kids ask

How many puzzles should a child do each day?

Three to ten is plenty for most children. It is better to solve a few carefully than to rush through many.

Should my child play fast games online?

A few are fine for fun, but slow games teach far more. Encourage games of at least 10 minutes for each player.

My child does not want to practise. What should I do?

Make it shorter and more playful: one puzzle instead of five, or a game with you. Interest usually comes back when practice feels like play.

Do I need to know chess to help?

No. Asking questions, keeping the routine and celebrating effort helps your child more than knowing the moves yourself.