Tuesday
Mar202012
Chess - With No Stress!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 5:00AM 
I do not know how to play chess.
It intimidates me.
When I read in The Story of The World Activity Guide that Chess is the perfect addition to our Medieval studies, I knew I had to get over my fear. I wasn't aware of the origins of chess, so I found a little bit of reading to enlighten all of us.
Enter No Stress Chess {and my husband}.
By the way... this isn't a review or a promotion. I just love No Stress Chess and want you to know about it, too. Chess School is in session. Everyone pay attention and take notes!
I love my husband so much. He takes his job as a dad seriously - he has enjoyed homeschooling lately!
He told the kids all about how he played Chess with his dad when he was a little boy (that Chess board is at Granddaddy's house still - I bet next time we are there the kids will play a game!), and how the pieces they used came from Europe when Granddaddy was in the Air Force.
I love how homeschooling allows us to share pieces of family history while we learn about the more broad history of our world -- making these personal connections is why I love this lifestyle.
No Stress Chess is a Chess Training Game (at first) and then a full blown Chess game. One side of the board helps the children with where they can move their pieces. It also uses game cards that you draw to help you learn how to move the pieces.
The directions are very clear. I think after several times of playing, then they will be able to flip the board and play without hints or training cards.
Learning to play Chess has been a great time for the kids to learn from dad, and a great way for them to be quiet and thoughtful.
Can you see the joy in his face? This is what "school" is all about!
Do you know how to play Chess? Do you play with your children? How did you learn to play? I'd love to hear your stories....
Reader Comments (9)
That 1st pic of Grant is priceless! We love checkers here but have not gotten into Chess yet...hope you are loving vacation!
We have a similar game and in fact need to pull it out. There have been far too few games played around here lately!
We have No Stress Chess! I bought it because everyone had tried to teach me orally, and I'm very much a visual learner. Both my boys knew how to play and I hated that I couldn't play with them. I learned how to play in no time with NSC! We play several times a week. It teaches such great skills that we do it in school all the time!
I taught the boys chess, using one (type of) piece at a time. We began with the pawns ( http://homeschooljournal-bergblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/feudal-system-and-chess.html ) and added a new piece each week.
We don't know how to play chess. I used to be able to play a little, but forgot. Keilee and I have talked about learning and I should I think. I love the way "No Stress Chess" sounds, I will have to look for it.
Love the picture of Grant in the top pic. Too precious.
My dh knows how to play and my oldest son too, although they don't play very often. We bought a chess set while in Russia adopting our oldest, unfortunately it now has some missing pieces. I'm not sure my second oldest would sit still long enough to learn how to play. I admire those who play, but I have no desire to learn :) Hope your kids enjoy!
my dad loves chess. my DS6.5 loves it too but he doesn't know all the rules so he makes them up. this game set you suggested would be great to prepare my son to play with grandpa when he comes to visit in the summer.
thank you. :)
My daddy taught me to play when I was a girl. I always had fun playing with him. Family game nights were big in my family. Russell and I played a lot before kids....Have a great vaca.
Hutch is teaching the girls to play, and I am so glad that he has taken on that resposibility:) It's a good Daddy-daughter thing for them to do! I'll just have to stick with checkers until I learn how to play.
Love your photos, and the great idea for a rainy day! The girls could play chess tomorrow:)