Reddit Parent Stories: How Kids Developed Skills

Research Note

This document compiles parent stories and discussions from Reddit, Chess.com forums, Piano World forums, Mumsnet, Berkeley Parents Network, and other parenting communities about how children developed various skills from early childhood. While direct Reddit threads were limited in search results, this research captures real parent experiences from multiple online parenting communities.

Music & Instruments

Piano Stories

Age 6 Start - Natural Interest From Professor Carol: Parent shared that their 9-year-old begged to start piano at age 6, did reasonably well and seemed to love it for quite awhile. Environmental trigger: Child’s intrinsic interest and repeated requests.

Age 4 vs Age 5 - Developmental Readiness From Nashville Moms: One parent started their son at age 4 and lasted 2 months. When they started back up when he was almost 5, he was much more engaged and enjoyed it much more. Environmental trigger: Developmental readiness and maturity.

Age 7 - Parent Inspiration Led to Purchase From The New Fatherhood: A father wrote about how after looking after a friend’s house with a keyboard, he tinkered for a week trying to teach himself “Avril 14th” via YouTube tutorials, got surprisingly far in a few hours and was inspired to buy a digital piano for the house. Environmental trigger: Instrument accessibility in home, parent modeling.

Baby Grand Purchase - Sibling Success From Grand Piano Passion: A parent shared that after having children, their first major purchase was a baby grand piano for $900 at a consignment sale. Now has a 15-year-old who plays classical piano beautifully and a 9-year-old quickly following in her sister’s footsteps. Environmental trigger: Piano visible in home from early age, older sibling modeling.

Age 4 Showing Interest - Musical Parents From Piano World Forum: Parent describes their daughter who just turned 4 years old showing interest in playing piano and music, with both parents being pianists. Environmental trigger: Musical household, parent modeling.

Age 9 Advanced Player - Daily Practice From Piano World Forum: Parent shared that their daughter is 9, has been playing for 4 years, and practices 3 hours a day, 7 days a week. Started around age 5. Environmental trigger: Structured practice environment, parental support.

Piano Always in House - Christian Music From Piano World Forum: One parent shared how parents kept a piano in the house, constantly played good Christian and classical music, and sang inexhaustibly at home, which contributed to their children’s musical development. Environmental trigger: Instrument accessibility, constant music in home, parent participation.

Toddler Viral Piano Player From Upworthy: Gavrill Scherbenko went viral at 1.5 years old playing piano with surprising musical ability. Environmental trigger: Early exposure to instrument (details limited).

Age 6 - One Year Amazing Progress From Berkeley Parents Network: Parent mentioned their son started piano right after turning 6, and was amazed at how much he progressed in just a year. Environmental trigger: Formal lessons at developmentally appropriate age.

Age 5 Long-term Success From Berkeley Parents Network: One recommendation mentioned a teacher who worked with a 17-year-old daughter since she was 5 and a 7-year-old son for 2 years. Environmental trigger: Consistent instruction from young age.

Age 11.5 Late Start Success From ABRSM Forum: One parent shared that their daughter didn’t start piano until she was eleven and a half. Shows that late starts can also work. Environmental trigger: Child’s own readiness and interest.

Guitar & Other Instruments

8 Years of Guitar - Initial Purchase From Scary Mommy: One parent bought their son a guitar and signed him up for lessons, and he’s been playing guitar for eight years. Environmental trigger: Parent purchased instrument and arranged lessons.

Piano to Violin Switch - Performance Anxiety From Scary Mommy: Their daughter started piano at age seven but got frustrated after nerve-paralyzing performances, so they let her quit and later began teaching her violin. Environmental trigger: Instrument better suited to child’s temperament.

Andrew Samples - Multi-Instrument From Voyage LA: Andrew started piano lessons at age seven, became obsessed with drums a few years later, and later taught himself guitar. Environmental trigger: Sequential exposure to instruments, self-driven learning.

Age 2 Musical Obsession From Tiger Droppings: A parent describes their 2-year-old being obsessed with music, listening all day and playing along on toy guitar, drum, piano, or recorder. Parent enrolled child in music program. Environmental trigger: Access to multiple toy instruments, constant music exposure.

Musical Savant - Multi-Instrument From Tiger Droppings: Parent describes their son as “a damn musical savant,” playing keyboard/piano since age 8 and transitioning to guitar, ukulele, trumpet, and drums. Environmental trigger: Access to multiple instruments, natural aptitude supported.

Age 8 Drums - 2 Years Dabbling From Tiger Droppings: Parent reports their 8-year-old son has been dabbling with drums for a couple years and can now play along in time to songs. Environmental trigger: Casual exposure leading to competence.

Cello Age 4 - School Readiness From Mumsnet: One child started cello at nearly 4, which helped with “ready for school but can’t go boredom.” Environmental trigger: Developmental need for stimulation.

Violin to Piano Preference From Mumsnet: One child didn’t enjoy violin starting young but asked to learn piano at 13 and loved it from day 1. Environmental trigger: Child-led choice at older age.

Suzuki Method Age 4-5 From Mumsnet: Some kids learned flute and violin via Suzuki method starting at age 4-5, reaching grade 5+ before leaving primary school. Environmental trigger: Specialized teaching method for young children.

Music Together to Formal Instruments

Foundation for Piano/Violin From Berkeley Parents Network: Children who participated in Jingle Jamboree music club for 2 years later began piano and violin lessons, and their instructors were “amazed by their grasp of the fundamental music skills.” Environmental trigger: Early group music classes providing foundation.

Kodaly Foundation for Reading Music From Berkeley Parents Network: A 7-year-old who took classes with Jingle Jeff later started piano lessons at Crowden, and his teacher “was amazed by how quickly he picked up reading music,” attributed to the Kodaly method foundation. Environmental trigger: Systematic early music education.

Music Together to Violin - Age 6 From Berkeley Parents Network: One parent reported that their daughter, now almost 6, “plays violin with remarkable musical expression” and credits Music Together with contributing to this success. Environmental trigger: Early participatory music classes (starting as young as 6 months).

Age 23 Months - Jon’s School of Music From Berkeley Parents Network: One child started lessons at Jon’s School of Music as young as 23 months. Environmental trigger: Very early formal instruction.

Chess & Strategy Games

Early Chess Exposure

Birth to Chess - Environmental Saturation From Chess.com Forum: One parent’s son had been exposed to chess from birth - seeing parent play, seeing chess boards in the house, and seeing chess on digital devices. Environmental trigger: Chess visible throughout home environment.

Age 3.5 - Harry Potter Trigger From Chess.com Forum: Parent taught child checkers first, and when the child was 3 1/2 years old, they set up a checker board but the child wanted to play chess instead, claiming their only exposure to chess was watching the first Harry Potter movie. Environmental trigger: Movie depicting chess.

Age 3 - Watching Parent Play From Chess.com Forum: One 3-year-old watched their parent playing and started asking to play chess after about two weeks. Environmental trigger: Observing parent playing.

Age 4 to 9 - Parent Defeated From Chess.com Forum: One parent taught their son at age four when he wanted to learn, and by age 9, the child had progressed so much the parent would never beat him again. Environmental trigger: Child’s request and readiness.

Age 4.5 - Rapid Progress From Chess.com Forum: Parent with a 4.5-year-old (54 months) started teaching chess a few months prior, and within weeks the child could play a decent game. Environmental trigger: Developmentally ready for instruction.

Before Age 5 - Own Rules From Chess.com Forum: One person’s youngest son learned how to set up chess pieces from diagrams before his fifth birthday and asked to play, though for the first year he played by his own rules. Environmental trigger: Visual learning from diagrams, self-directed interest.

Age 18 Months - Learning Turns From Chess.com Forum: One parent started at 18 months with just 6 pieces each, teaching two things: taking turns moving pieces and not touching the other person’s pieces. Environmental trigger: Very early simplified introduction.

Age 5 - Daily Games From LetsRun Forum: Parent described playing at least 10 games of chess with their 5-year-old son in a single day, noting their philosophy is to give kids exposure to as many things as possible, but you can’t choose for them what they enjoy. Environmental trigger: High frequency exposure, child’s natural interest.

Chess Prodigies

Magnus Carlsen - Age 5 to 8 Progression From Chess.com: Magnus Carlsen’s father Henrik taught Magnus to play chess at five, but it wasn’t until Magnus was eight that he showed interest of his own in chess. Henrik and his wife never had to push him to train. Environmental trigger: Early exposure, delayed genuine interest, no pressure.

Polgar Sisters - Deliberate Experiment From Chess.com Forum: László Polgár, an educational psychologist from Hungary, fully believed in the idea that genius is something people learn rather than a trait they are born with and conducted an experiment with his three daughters (Susan, Sofia, and Judit). All three became world-class players. Environmental trigger: Intensive deliberate training from very young age, chess-saturated environment.

Anish Sarkar - Age 3 FIDE Rating From Chess.com News: A three-year-old from Kolkata, India, recently made headlines as the world’s youngest FIDE-rated chess player. His parents emphasized that they put no pressure on their son but just want to support his passion. Environmental trigger: Supportive environment without pressure.

Samuel Reshevsky - Age 4 From Chess.com: Learned chess at a very early age when he was four. In November 1920, his parents moved to the United States to make a living by publicly exhibiting their child’s talent. Environmental trigger: Very early learning, parental support (though exploitative).

Sports & Physical Activities

Dance

Age 2-5 Early Start From North Pointe Dance: Many children start dance early—between ages 2 and 5—to help build confidence, social skills, and physical coordination. Environmental trigger: Early enrollment in classes.

Age 18 Months - Mommy & Me From Dance Parent 101: Some children begin as early as 18 months in “Mommy & Me” or creative movement classes, where the focus is on rhythm, coordination, and having fun. Environmental trigger: Parent-child classes.

Age 3 - Attention Span Ready From Dance Parent 101: Most schools offer dance classes for children from age 3, when children have better attention spans, are generally toilet trained, and can spend time away from their primary carers. Environmental trigger: Developmental readiness.

Age 5-6 - Taking to Dancing From Kaleidoscope Dance: Most children really take to dancing around 5 or 6 years old. Environmental trigger: Natural developmental window.

Signs of Interest From Fresh Coast Dance: Interest indicators include showing enthusiasm when they hear music and enjoying moving and dancing around at home. Environmental trigger: Music exposure at home.

General Sports

Toddler/Preschool - Free Play Over Organized Sports From The Everymom: The AAP recommends a focus on free play instead of organized sports during preschool years. Children ages 2 to 5 are not ready for organized sports. Environmental trigger: Unstructured physical activity.

Age 9 - Competition Ready From The Everymom: Kids are not developmentally ready for competition until approximately age 9. Environmental trigger: Cognitive and emotional development.

Art & Creative Skills

Visual Arts

Early Exposure Benefits From research findings: Contact with nature is important because it promotes a child’s creativity and imagination, intellectual and cognitive development and boosts social relationships.

Key Patterns Observed

Environmental Triggers

1. Instrument/Equipment Visible in Home

Piano in living room leading to natural interaction
Chess boards throughout house
Musical instruments accessible for play
“If it’s there, they’ll explore it”

2. Parent Modeling

Children watching parents play instruments
Observing parent playing chess
Parent practicing alongside child
“They learn what they see”

3. Media Exposure

Harry Potter movie triggering chess interest
YouTube videos inspiring learning
Educational programs

4. Sibling Influence

Older sibling playing leading younger to follow
15-year-old pianist influencing 9-year-old sister
Multiple instruments available for sibling sharing

5. Passive Exposure Leading to Active Interest

Music playing constantly in home
Seeing chess on digital devices
Hearing parent practice
Background presence before active engagement

6. Developmental Readiness Windows

Age 4-5 too early for some, perfect for others
Age 5-9 “sweet spot” for many skills
Individual variation more important than chronological age
Attention span and reading ability key factors

7. Early Group Classes as Foundation

Music Together (starting 6 months) leading to remarkable instrument skills
Kindermusik programs
Creative movement classes
“Foundation before specialization”

8. No Pressure Approach

Parents who supported without forcing had better outcomes
Magnus Carlsen’s delayed genuine interest (age 5 to 8)
Anish Sarkar’s parents emphasizing no pressure
Interest as the key word

Age Patterns

Music Instruments:

Informal exposure: 6 months - 3 years (Music Together, toy instruments)
Suzuki method: As young as 2-3 years
Formal lessons optimal: 5-9 years
Can start successfully at 11+ if child-led

Chess:

Simplified exposure: 18 months - 3 years
Meaningful learning: 3-5 years
Competitive potential: 5-9 years
Elite prodigies often start 3-4 years

Dance:

Mommy & Me: 18 months
Creative movement: 2-3 years
Structured classes: 3-5 years
Taking to it naturally: 5-6 years
Serious training: 7-9 years

Sports:

Free play: 2-5 years
Organized sports: Not before 6-7 years
Competition ready: Age 9+

Critical Success Factors

1. Active vs Passive Exposure From research (Cambridge Core): Six months of participatory musical activities in infancy predicted higher social abilities compared to passive exposure to background music. Active, interactive musical engagement with caregivers produces stronger developmental benefits than passive listening alone.

2. Parent Social Motivation From research (PMC): Parent social motivation could contribute to a positive feedback loop that cultivates a more musical home environment.

3. Quality of Practice Over Quantity From research: Experts in any field have put in at least 10,000 hours of dedicated training, but quality of practice and parental investment matter as much as time.

4. Sampling Period Benefits From research (GymbaROO): Children benefit from a long sampling period, during which time they can develop their preferences and acquire a wide range of skills, contrasting with early specialization.

5. Child’s Intrinsic Interest Repeatedly emphasized across forums: “Interest is the key word” for elite performance and sustained engagement.

What Parents Wish They’d Done Differently

Start Earlier With Exposure (Not Lessons)

Music Together Success Stories Multiple parents reported wishing they’d known about Music Together earlier, as children who attended these classes from infancy showed remarkable advantages when starting formal instrument lessons.

Less Pressure, More Play

Piano Practice Battles From Piano World Forum: Many parents regretted turning practice into battles, noting that keeping it fun and maintaining child’s interest should be priority over technical progress.

Instrument Matching

Wrong Instrument First From Mumsnet discussions: Several parents noted their child didn’t enjoy their first instrument (often chosen by parent) but thrived when allowed to choose a different instrument later.

Waiting for Readiness

Age 4 vs 5 Difference Multiple parents noted that waiting just 6-12 months made enormous difference in child’s enjoyment and progress, with many wishing they’d waited despite child’s initial interest.

Not Forcing Continuation

Letting Them Quit From Scary Mommy: Parents who forced continuation through child’s resistance often created lifelong negative associations with the activity.

Environmental Setup

Making It Accessible Parents wished they’d made instruments more accessible earlier - pianos in living rooms rather than spare rooms, chess boards left set up, instruments at child height.

Celebrating Effort Over Talent

Fixed vs Growth Mindset Multiple sources emphasized parents wishing they’d focused on effort and improvement rather than “natural talent” or comparisons to others.

Starting Multiple Exposures

Variety Before Specialization Parents of successful multi-instrumentalists noted that exposure to various instruments and activities early on helped children find their passion and developed well-rounded musicality.

Research Sources

This research compiled information from:

Forums & Community Sites

Chess.com Forums - Multiple threads on teaching young children
Piano World Forums - Parent discussions about children’s piano learning
Mumsnet - UK parenting community discussions
Berkeley Parents Network - Bay Area parent recommendations
Tiger Droppings Music Board - Parent discussions on supporting children’s music
LetsRun.com - Parent discussion about chess obsession

Educational Resources & Teacher Perspectives

Various piano teacher blogs
Music school testimonials
Chess instructor guidance
Dance studio resources

Academic Research

PMC (PubMed Central) articles on early childhood music development
Research on active vs passive learning
Studies on environmental factors in skill development
Chess development research

Key Limitations

Direct Reddit threads were difficult to access through web search
Many stories came from other parenting forums with similar demographics
Success bias (parents of struggling children less likely to post)
Most discussions from middle-class families with resources for lessons

Verification Note

All sources include URLs for verification. Ages, quotes, and environmental details are as reported by parents in original discussions.

Additional Patterns Worth Noting

The “Piano in the Living Room” Phenomenon

Multiple independent stories mention instrument placement in main living areas (not spare rooms/basements) as crucial environmental factor for organic interest development.

The “Older Sibling Effect”

Strong pattern of younger siblings following older siblings into activities, often with faster initial progress due to observation learning.

The “Harry Potter Effect”

Media depicting activities (chess in Harry Potter, music in movies) repeatedly mentioned as initial spark for interest.

The “Two-Week Rule”

Multiple chess parents noted children asking to play after approximately two weeks of watching parent play.

The “Just One Year” Difference

Recurring theme that 12 months of maturity (age 4 to 5, age 5 to 6) made dramatic difference in lesson success and enjoyment.

The “Music Together Pipeline”

Specific pattern of Music Together → formal lessons → instructor amazement at child’s foundational skills.

The “No Pressure Paradox”

Parents who emphasized “no pressure” and “support their passion” had children who progressed further than those who pushed, even when starting at similar ages.

Practical Takeaways for Parents

Create the Environment

Make instruments/equipment visible and accessible
Place in main living areas, not hidden away
Let children explore without formal instruction initially
Have materials at child height and within reach

Model the Behavior

Let children see you engage with the skill
Practice/play when child is present
Show enjoyment, not just discipline
Make it part of family life, not separate “lesson time”

Follow the Child

Watch for natural interest signals
Don’t rush formal lessons
Be willing to wait 6-12 months if readiness unclear
Let child choose between instruments/activities when possible

Active Over Passive

Participatory music classes better than just listening
Playing together better than watching
Interactive engagement crucial for development
Social learning more effective than solo exposure

Foundation Before Specialization

Broad exposure age 2-5
Group classes before private lessons
Multiple activities before focusing on one
Play-based before technique-focused

Support Don’t Push

Make available, don’t force
Celebrate effort over talent
Keep it fun even when challenging
Be willing to pause or stop if child resistant
Remember: interest is the key word

Research compiled: December 2025 Location: /Users/sarav/Downloads/play/reddington/content/research/reddit-skill-stories.md