When should my child start playing chess?

As parents, we all want our kids to develop important skills that will help them succeed in life, and chess is definitely one of those skills that can teach so much—strategic thinking, problem-solving, and patience, just to name a few. But when is the right time to start teaching your child how to play? I found myself staring at my 2-and-a-half-year-old, wondering if she’s ready to learn how to checkmate.
We know the benefits of chess: it builds analytical thinking, helps with focus, and even provides great opportunities for socialization, especially if your child joins a chess club. But still, when is the right time to introduce them to the game?
To answer this question, I decided to take a look at the world’s top chess players and see when they started. Here’s what I found:

1. Magnus Carlsen – Age 5
2. Fabiano Caruana – Age 5
3. Hikaru Nakamura – Age 7
4. Arjun Erigaisi – Age 3
5. Gukesh D – Age 7
6. Nodirbek Abdusattorov – Age 4
7. Alireza Firouzja – Age 8
8. Ian Nepomniachtchi – Age 4
9. Wei Yi – Age 6
10. Viswanathan Anand – Age 6

While some of these chess masters started as young as 3 years old, others began around age 8. On average, they started around 5.5 years old, which seems to be a sweet spot. At that age, kids have the attention span to focus and start understanding the basic rules and concepts of the game.
So, if you're wondering when to start teaching your child chess, the consensus seems to be around 5 years old. That’s when they’re ready to start developing a real interest in the game. It makes sense, right? At that age, they’re not only capable of learning the moves, but they’re also at an age where you can begin nurturing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a fun way.
As parents, we want to give our kids every opportunity to thrive, and chess could definitely be one of those building blocks. So, if your little one isn’t quite ready yet, don’t worry—there’s plenty of time to start. But, if they’re showing interest, why not give it a go? Just keep it light and fun, and who knows—you might have the next chess prodigy on your hands!