Look before you move: simple questions that help children think

Young children often play chess at lightning speed. They spot a piece they like, grab it and move it, sometimes before you have even let go of yours. That quick enthusiasm is wonderful, but it also means they miss things: the bishop that could capture their queen, or the checkmate waiting one move away.

You don't need to know much chess to help. A few simple questions, asked kindly and at the right moment, teach your child to pause and look before they move. Over time, those questions become their own habit.

Question one: "What did my move do?"

After you make a move, ask your child, "What do you think I'm trying to do?" This is the single most useful question in chess. Most early mistakes happen because a child only thinks about their own plan and forgets the other player has one too.

At first they may shrug. That's fine. Point to the piece you moved and ask, "What can this piece reach now?" Let them trace its path with a finger.

Question two: "Is anything of yours in danger?"

Before your child moves, encourage a quick look around their own pieces. Is any piece being attacked? Can it be defended, or moved somewhere safe? Young players often leave a piece hanging simply because they never checked.

Question three: "Checks, captures, threats?"

Older children, around six to eight, can learn a short routine before each move:

• Checks: Can I put the king in check?
• Captures: Can I take something?
• Threats: Can I attack something?

They don't have to play any of these moves. The point is to look for them, so good chances aren't missed.

Make it a game. Agree on a "thinking signal", such as sitting on hands or touching their nose, that your child does before every move. It's a playful reminder to slow down, and it gives them a moment to look at the whole board.

Keep the tone curious, not critical

How you ask matters as much as what you ask. "Why did you do that?" can sound like a telling-off. "Ooh, what's your plan?" sounds like you want to know. Children who feel their thinking is interesting will share more of it, and explaining a move out loud is one of the best ways to understand it.

Don't ask questions on every single move, either. Pick one or two moments in a game, ideally when something important is happening, and let the rest flow.

Let them answer, then wait

It's tempting to fill a silence with the answer. Try counting to five in your head instead. Young children often need a little extra time, and the moment they spot the danger themselves is worth far more than being told.

Practising the habit

Puzzles are a great place to build this skill, because every puzzle has something to find. In ChessMons, the Practice area has 20 puzzles for each piece and skill, and "Today's 3" offers three daily puzzles. If your child gets stuck, coach Tock gives step-by-step hints, nudging them to look in the right place rather than simply handing over the answer.

Little by little, the questions you ask out loud become the questions your child asks themselves. That quiet pause before a move is one of the most valuable things chess can teach.