How to Teach Kids to Play Chess Using Yahoo Instant Messenger

Teaching kids to play chess using Yahoo instant messenger is an incredibly easy way for them to use to learn the moves and rules of chess without all the stress that can be involved on a real life board game. Not only do they get to learn to play chess, but they also get to practice using technology, a vital part of their education these days.

Set Up a Yahoo Instant Messenger Account
The first thing to do is to set up a Yahoo instant messenger account for you and your child. This can be a fun process as your child picks their screen names and uploads photos or avatars that represent them. To make it safe, you can always create the password for the child so that he or she can only log in when you are aware of it and approve the login.

Start a Chess Game on Yahoo Instant Messenger
To start teaching your child how to play on Yahoo instant messenger, simply open an instant messenger window as if you were going to chat with your child. Then, click on the "activities" icon at the top of the instant messenger window. Click on the "start" button next to the chess icon. A message will be sent to the child asking if they would like to play chess.

Teaching Your Child the Basics of Chess
There are a lot of details for a child to learn about chess. They need to know the goal of the game as well as how each player can move. Eventually, they will need to learn to set up the board as well. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be learned right away since Yahoo instant messenger chess is already set up for the players. When I taught my child to play chess, I gave him some history on the way that kingdoms worked so that he could understand better why the bishops, knights, rooks and pawns were placed where they were at the beginning of the game.

One of the hardest parts of teaching a child to play chess is to help them to understand how each piece can move. This can lead to arguments and frustration when the game should be about fun and strategy. That's why Yahoo instant messenger is such a great way to teach kids to play chess. It only allows the child to move the pieces where they are able to move, rather than you having to argue with your child about why the knight cannot move in a straight line or why the king can only move one space at a time.

As you play the game, allow your child to make decisions about where they will move. You might ask them why they are moving that knight there or that bishop here, but do it in such a way as to have them consider the consequences rather than by condemning their moves. Yahoo instant messenger chess also has the option of taking a move back with the opponents permission. This is a great feature because it allows children to see first hand what happens to their pawn or other piece that is moved. It allows them to learn about strategies and to use that knowledge to make better decisions.

Don't forget to play nice and allow your child to put you in check mate every now and then so that they can feel good about the game. You don't have to make it easy for them, but let them feel a sense of accomplishment as you teach your child how to play chess using Yahoo instant messenger.