Game on Be the first to comment 29 January 2012

Chess
Start playing: 5+
Up to three players
The ultimate game of strategy, children can learn the basics of chess from around five years of age. A ‘thinking game’ that teaches children to analyse, studies show that kids who play chess regularly develop better mathematical skills than those who don’t. The best way to start them off is with a small and inexpensive magnetic travel set, which can be picked up from most stores for just a few dirhams. That way it doesn’t matter if pieces get lost or broken. Start by just showing your child how the chess pieces are arranged on the board, and explain their different names. Once they’ve mastered the set-up (it will take them a few attempts to get it right) you’d be amazed at how fast they’ll have your rusty tactics in check mate! To ‘up the stakes’ why not play two against one? An older child can play on-side with the new learner, taking tactical moves in turns against mum or dad.
Available at all major toy stores.