"Chess and Kindergarten
The learning speeds of children during the preschool period are at their peak. Physical and mental games are highly significant for children's development during this period. Chess is one of the intellectual games that contribute significantly to children's development. The substantial contributions of chess education to children's development have enabled some communities to include chess as a subject in their programs. This study aims to evaluate the Preschool Chess Teaching Program published in 2019, focusing on the opinions of chess coaches, preschool teachers, and specialists in preschool education. The research is structured within a basic qualitative research model. The participants of the study consist of 115 individuals, including chess coaches, preschool teachers, and specialists in preschool education. Data for the study was collected through semi-structured interviews, and a descriptive analysis method was used for analyzing the interview data. Following the analysis, the findings were expressed. According to the findings obtained from the research, the majority of the participants indicated that the specific objectives of the Chess Teaching Program align with the general objectives of preschool education. Most participants expressed their intention to implement the program. It was stated that the program adequately teaches chess rules to children. Moreover, the majority of participants indicated that the topics and achievements defined in the program are suitable for children's levels. However, some participants suggested that further work and organization are needed regarding the program details. It was concluded that most challenges encountered during the program implementation process were related to children, while some were attributed to teacher or program-based issues.
