What I think the kids need most of all, is a patient parent.

I taught my daughter to play when she was five or six, even though I suck at it. She is not a natural (takes after me), but we have fun playing still and she is improving. She has a good sense of the game and can strategise her attack, but struggles to see what she needs to do to defend. Still, we have fun, and that is the point for us :)

With Christmas coming up, I'm sure someone is going to end up buying him a chess set.

I know it might not seem very classy, but a magnetic one is good for kids as they are a bit clumsier with their hands and knock pieces easily.