Lily’s World of Chess
Learning Chess. Learning Life.
A multisensory approach to early childhood chess education through music, movement, storytelling, animation, and play.
The Problem
Traditional chess instruction can feel abstract and technical for young children. Many schools do not have trained chess instructors, while classroom teachers and parents may not know how to introduce the game.
Our opportunity is to make chess developmentally appropriate, joyful, and accessible to every child.
The Solution
Hear it. Sing it. See it. Move it. Read it. Play it.
- Original Instructional Songs
- Animated Learning Videos
- Movement & Embodied Learning
- Illustrated Children’s Books
- Hands-On Chess Play
- Curriculum & Teacher Training
A child can sing how a chess piece moves, see it animated, experience it through movement, read about it, and then apply the concept on the chessboard.
More Than Chess
Through chess, children can develop:
- Critical Thinking
- Focus
- Creativity
- Decision-Making
- Resilience
- Patience
- Sportsmanship
- Partnership
- Empathy
- Respect
Winning is not simply about defeating another person, and losing is not failure. Every game is an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop respect for ourselves and others.
Who Is It For
Children
- Music
- Animation
- Movement
- Play
Teachers
- Ready-to-use curriculum
- Classroom activities
- Professional development
Families
- Books
- Songs
- Videos
- At-home learning
Schools & Districts
A scalable way to bring chess-based learning into classrooms without requiring every teacher to be a chess expert.
Lily’s World of Chess, Inc. is an approved New York City Department of Education vendor, providing a direct pathway for NYC public schools to contract for educational programs.
Proof Of Concept
An instructional chess song has already been tested with children, demonstrating strong engagement and helping validate the music-based learning approach.
Next: We are developing a new collection of original instructional songs, animations, movement-based activities, and learning materials for classroom and home use.
Meet The Founder
Lily Fayerman
Founder & CEO
- Chess Educator
- Musician
- Learning Designer
- 24 years in chess education
- US Chess National Expert & Senior Tournament Director
- FIDE National Instructor & School Lead Instructor
- Youth World Chess Championship competitor — Girls U14
- FIDE World Corporate Chess Championship 2024 — Google Team
- M.A. Candidate, Adult Learning & Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University
- Professional singer, recording & performing as Laila Faerman
Lily’s World of Chess brings together decades of experience in chess education, music, and learning design to reimagine how young children experience chess.
Beyond Chess
Music has been an important part of Lily’s creative work and is now being integrated into a new approach to chess education.
Our Educational Roots
Founder Lily Fayerman also founded Lily’s Chess World, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to chess education and using chess as a vehicle for intellectual and personal development.
The Vision
Our vision is to make chess—and its cognitive, social-emotional, and character-building benefits—accessible to every child.
Learning Chess. Learning Life.
Lily’s World of Chess, Inc.
New York, NY