After listening to a talk at one of our local libraries yesterday, five year-old No. 2 and three year-old No. Three asked to stop into the adjoining chess room for a game before they headed back out. In the past, Three has usually devolved into tears upon losing her first piece, so I figured the game would be quick. "Sure, you can play until somebody screams." was my answer. Much to my surprise, Three and Two had matured immensely over the last few months! Not too long into the game, Three did in fact lose a pawn. It was no big deal though, she kept right on playing! Two quickly remastered how all the pieces moved, and then started helping Three. Even more surprising, Three started telling me about his strategy of bringing his pawns out while leaving his queen, a bishop, and all the pawns in front of them behind to 'protect that guy', (that'd be the king). He'd internalized what his mom had shown him months earlier and was now putting it to use....