The answer is the same for all children. They need to know how to play according to the basic rules of the game. That’s all!
So why start tournaments early in life? What are the benefits?
While playing games at home or at school is fun, playing in a tournament is a truly memorable experience. It’s just so exciting! And a child’s chess-playing ability often skyrockets as soon as he or she start playing in tournaments.
See the article at ChessKid.com.