Free chess online isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
The ancient board game chess is popularly known for its thrilling and exciting strategic battles between brilliant brains and minds.
From time immemorial, chess has been thought to be learned and played only physically. However, with the evolution of technology, this has changed. Apps, software, and websites have been specially tailored for chess enthusiasts, learners, and players of all skill levels.
Such online platforms have also been made available for all age groups. Parents who have kids interested in chess or want their kids to play chess no longer have to hire a chess tutor to teach their kids chess physically.
So, how can your kids learn free chess online? Can a chess tutor also teach your kids online? Here, we will explain the various ways your kids can benefit from technology when learning chess.
For many, it has a reputation as a dry board game that’s too challenging to be fun and involves a lot of sitting around and waiting. While this might be true, once you really start to get into the game, it’s an absorbing activity that engages the mind and does your brain a world of good.
But you might have a hard time convincing your child of this since all they see is a checkered board with some pieces.
These days, for better or worse, a lot of the entertainment that a child consumes will be in the form of online TV shows, games, and other engaging resources. As such, what better way to pique your child’s interest in the game of kids chess than by finding the very best online chess for kids resources?
Books and informational booklets may have once been the main way of finding out more about the best chess for kids plays and strategies - as seen in the hit Netflix show ‘Queen’s gambit’ for example - but in the modern era online resources are king.
How Can Kids Learn Chess Online?
Due to the pandemic, most schools and parents have turned to the internet as an instrumental learning tool. Kids can now learn almost anything online through technology and the internet, and chess is no exception.
There are several ways kids can learn chess online. They can either learn independently or with the help of a chess tutor, mentor, or parent. With online tools, older kids can learn the basics, tricks, strategies, and moves of chess independently, while the younger kids may need the help of parents or a tutor.
The online tools that can be used include apps, websites, and even video conferencing software. Some of these tools come with video tutorials, action cards, and visuals to aid learning and playing. These tools also connect kids with other players within their age group and skill level. When kids play chess online free, they get better as they learn new skills.
Read on to find out what we think are some of the best online resources to teach your child chess, so you can guarantee that they are engaged with the game and stay interested long after their introduction to it.
Find chess tutor here on Superprof.
What Are the Best Websites For Chess Board Online?
There are numerous online websites where kids can learn to play online chess games. Kids can learn the basics through these websites and improve their game through solo practice, quizzes, and matches with other players. Some of the best websites where your kids can learn chess include
First, we’ll take a look at some of the top online chess websites, each offering up a whole host of resources from tutorials and game videos to activities and courses.
Whether you’re looking for a chess-based curriculum designed to take your child from beginner to intermediate or you just want for them to have access to fun kids chess games and activities based on the game, you should be able to find what you’re looking for on the following sites.
Chess Kid
One of the most widely-praised chess websites for kids is Chess Kid.
ChessKids is an excellent chess website that is designed especially for kids who have an interest in chess. To ensure kids' safety, it doesn't allow sharing of personal information; it implements chat restrictions and provides parents with activity reports.
On ChessKids, children can register either independently or under a school body for chess boards online. Chess coaches can also register to facilitate playing and learning among their students. This website provides kids with various learning tools, challenges, and puzzles and allows them to play real-time chess with their peers or robots.
It also provides:
- Fun video tutorials.
- A well-detailed curriculum.
- A level progression system that keeps track of kids' progress as they learn.
On ChessKids, there are also free and paid accounts that come with unique perks for children who want to play chess online with friends.
On this website, you can access a ton of free chess-related content that your child can explore at their own pace, or you can go for the premium gold membership. With the gold membership, you will have access to a wide selection of video tutorials, games, and so much more.
There are various pricing options for the subscription, so you can either pay on a monthly or annual basis depending on what works best for you.
As you’ll see when you first visit the website, Chess Kid uses larger-than-life animated chess characters to talk your child through the basic moves as well as explaining the rules and the purposes of all the different pieces.
Each video is available in various languages, too.
There are also several categories that you can look at with the main drop-down menu on the website, which includes ‘play’, ‘puzzles’, ‘learn’, and ‘connect’, so there are many ways to interact with chess online.
Chess Kid is a secure website that offers a restricted chat feature so your child can find like-minded chess learners and exchange strategies, and keeps all personal info private.
The similarly-named Chess Kids is another top website for teaching your child about chess.
The main features of this website are the free online classes it offers and a feature that will pit your kid against the computer AI for a real challenge.
While the website seems outdated compared to the flashy Chess Kid interface, there is plenty for your child to explore including in-depth explanations of the rules and all of the individual pieces.
If you yourself aren’t confident about all of the ins and outs of the board game, you can use this website as a refresher while you also introduce your child to various aspects of the game.
You can find thorough explanations of the board, the pieces, and then more in-depth explorations of every piece and then complete the quizzes afterward with your kid to make sure the information sunk in.
At the top of the website, you’ll find a series of drop-down menus which cover the various resources included such as articles and useful links, as well as an about page, a chess store, and more.
There’s even a companion book to the website, in case you want to work through the material in text as well as through multimedia resources.
Chess4Life
Chess4Life provides a kid-friendly environment for children to learn chess while having maximum fun. It provides a reasonably curated curriculum that teaches focus, critical thinking, and other essential life skills.
This website is specially designed for kids aged 5-16 years old.
Chess4Life provides beginners with coaches who take them through personal or small group classes while tracking their progress. On this website, kids also have access to online chess clubs where daily tournaments are played, and daily lessons are given. To top it up, Chess4Life also incorporates school breaks into their curriculum. During these breaks, they offer online chess camps for kids.
ChessMatec
ChessMatec is an interesting website that provides chess teachers and coaches that provide online classes to young learners.
Chess Matec is most suitable for kids aged 4-9 years old. This website offers all there is to know about chess and makes learning and playing as easy as possible. It provides basic chess rules while learning, printable worksheets and guides, and video tutorials.
Chess Matec also has an app that contains everything the website has and more. It allows kids to practice chess online - alone and with their peers. For parents who want to teach their kids chess, there's a Chess Matec Portal that allows for this.
Chess Matec offers a free and paid version. With the all-access premium paid version, kids are provided complete access to everything they need for a few dollars.
This is a fun website with colorful characters and a striking visual style, so it’s ideal for introducing your child to the game of chess even if they’re still quite young.
The kinds of resources you can expect on ChessMatec range from online classes taught by the teachers and coaches, a whole host of instructional videos, worksheets, and even a well-rated app.
The app, called Chess for Kids, is perhaps one of the most enjoyable avenues for your child to get familiar with chess. In the app, your child will be introduced to the basic rules and strategies of chess through fun and engaging games lead by intriguing animated characters.
Chess.com
Chess.com offers a learning platform for kids and adults alike. This popularly known website also has an app where chess players can connect, play matches, and participate in challenges.
This website is suitable for kids as young as five years old as it offers several playing and learning tools.
Kids can access video tutorials, chess mentors, online tournaments, and several other kid-friendly features on the website.
With chess.com, kids can learn chess at their pace, leisure time, and from the comfort of their homes or wherever they find themselves. Parents who need more information on the best sites for online chess for kids can connect with the chess tutors on Superprof.
What Are the Best Chess Apps for Kids To Play Chess Online?
Just as there are online websites where kids can learn and play chess, there are also apps. With these apps, kids do not always need the internet and can easily access lessons, games, and tournaments.
Websites are an excellent place to start if you want to get your child interested in chess, but if you want them to practice in their spare time, downloading an app could be your best bet.
After all, so many children these days enjoy nothing more than getting hold of mum or dad’s mobile or tablet and sinking some time into engaging apps and games.
While you might not want to encourage this habit too much if your child is going to spend some time with a mobile or tablet, why not give them an app that can be both enjoyable and educational at the same time?
Here are some of the best apps for teaching your child chess:
Chess Academy for Kids
With Chess Academy for Kids, your child can learn chess for kids through practice, though there’s plenty of theory to teaching them the ropes too. Available for children over the age of 8, Chess Academy for Kids is also suitable for children of the age of 5 and up, provided there’s parental supervision to help them navigate the course content and get to grips with the basic concepts.
The app teaches all of the basics of chess, from the rules to first moves and strategies.
In the app, you’ll find a mix of tutorials and a game mode, so once your child feels confident enough they can step into the arena and put their skills to the test.
Dinosaur Chess
If your child has a hard time getting interested in chess in its classic form, why not start them off with something a little more exciting - like dinosaurs?
Every kid likes dinosaurs, and this award-nominated app is the perfect way to show your kids how to play chess without worrying about them getting bored with the bread-and-butter version of the game.
The engaging app features several friendly cartoon dinosaur protagonists and teaches children how to play chess with 11 interactive lessons.
There’s much more than chess lessons for kids with this app though, as your child will also be able to get immersed in the app with more than 20 mini-games and puzzles and play games against the 6 different animated dinosaur characters in the game.
This app is an excellent way to introduce children from the age of 4 and up to how to play the game of chess while always keeping it fun and keeping them motivated to stick with it.
tChess Lite
tChess Lite is a well-designed chess app that isn’t a fully-fledged teaching resource, but rather a fun way to play chess once your child is familiar with the basic rules and moves.
If your child already has some prerequisite knowledge of the game, either because they play at school or because you’ve already taught them the basics, then an app like tChess Lite can be an excellent option.
At less than a dollar, this app is perfect for allowing your child to put their skills to the test with a good-looking interface and plenty of options to experiment with.
If you consider yourself to be a hands-on teacher when it comes to chess, then you might like to use this app as a medium to teach your child how to get better at the game.
You can use the app as if it were a digitalised version of the board game, so instead of talking them through the rules, board, and pieces of a physical kids chess set you simply do so with the digital representations.
Since so many children these days enjoy learning online and with digital images, this is an excellent engaging option to try out.
Magnus Kingdom of Chess App
The Magnus Kingdom of Chess App is an excellent way for kids aged five years and above to learn chess at their pace and comfort.
This app makes the game as fun as possible for kids while playing. During games, they are allowed to collect coins and choose outfits for their game characters. Puzzles and battles are introduced to teach basic concepts like delivering checkmate, openings, and avoiding capture. The Magnus Kingdom of Chess App is available on IOS and Android.
Play Magnus App
What better way is there to learn chess than playing against and learning from the best at it? The Play Magnus app allows kids to learn and play chess with the current World Chess Champion - Magnus Carlsen.
This app is suitable for kids aged five years and above, and it is available on the web, Android, and iOS. The Play Magnus Chess app is unique in so many ways because it allows kids to access Magnus's video lessons and offers new players access to exclusive content. It keeps track of players and members as they progress and grow in age. This app provides kids with an exciting and challenging way to learn chess even from the comfort of their homes.
LiChess
Lichess is one of the best online chess apps for playing and learning chess. If you are on a budget, you can register your kids on this website.
Lichess makes provision for players of all skill levels to learn and play chess. Its beginner’s level has a highly detailed learning section that takes learners through the basics to venture into the chess world.
With Lichess, kids can also watch other players play and pick practical lessons from their games. This free website is an excellent choice for beginners on a budget.
What Are the Benefits of Kids Learning Chess Online?
The benefits of Chess - online or physical, are numerous and similar. Chess improves tactical and creative thinking, improves memory and concentration, and helps to protect your players from certain mental illnesses.
This popular and ancient board game also increases kids' IQs, enhances spatial skills, and boosts self-confidence. With chess, kids tend to do better at reading and math and do well at planning and problem-solving.
The benefits of this exceptional game are limitless. However, when learned and played online, there are some added benefits, a few include.
Variety of Experience
When learning chess online, kids can interact with and learn from other chess players and tutors worldwide. This way, they get to tap into an endless sea of experience. They learn new tricks, tips, and strategies they would ordinarily not learn when playing physically with one person or a few persons.
Convenience
Gone are the days when kids would have to carry around their box of chess pieces and game boards to play chess with their friends. Now, all they need is a phone, iPad, or computer. With personal devices, kids can learn and play chess anywhere they go and anytime they want and still enjoy the thrill, excitement, and benefits that come with playing chess.
The game of chess doesn't have to be played or learned the conventional way anymore. With technology, learning couldn't be made easier.
Kids get to learn chess through chess websites, online tutoring platforms, and fun apps. Do you know that your kids can also learn chess online on Superprof? By hiring a chess tutor on Superprof, you can arrange for online lessons for your kids.
As we said, though, if you’re going to skip the chess tutor and teach your child with this app, you’re going to need to know enough about the basic rules yourself as the game doesn’t hold your hand. That being said, there are hints in the game that pop up and help you to make the best moves in each moment.
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
