Improving outside of class

I tell kids all the time, you can't get good at something by doing it wrong, over and over again.  

Kids need to do lessons and videos, and workouts, and puzzles to see how to do it right.  THEN play games and tournaments to demonstrate what they have learned - and for it to sink in.  If they don't do well in games/ tournaments, it is because they have not "put in the work!"   As a fellow chess parent, I'd like to ask you all to consider motivating your kids to do the work.  Reward them.  Or treat it like studying rather than "video games" or "Screen time"...

Here is what kids should focus on:

LEARNING: 

• ChessKid.com - Lessons!  They should progress through the online lessons.  They are targeted to kids and are fun!
• ChessKid.com - Videos!  Also lots of fun, and very instructional
• Books - many great chess books out there.  Chess for Dummies is actually really good.

PRACTICE:

• ChessKid.com - Workouts!  Great common positions for kids to practice.
• ChessKid.com - Online games - play others in the class!
• ChessKid.com - Vision - practice "seeing the board" - learn chess notation so you can learn from your games!

DEMONSTRATING WHAT YOU LEARNED:

• ChessKid.com - PUZZLES!  Lots of fun - work on your puzzle rating!
• Tournaments!   Next one is Golda Meir
• Ladder Games in class