sometimes i'll get the kids to help me study, i'll get an annotated game, and get the kids to play through it move by move (one as white and one as black :-) ), reading out the annotations and then trying to explain it (in simplified terms) to them.
Teaching Kids How To Play Chess
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Agreed there.
Give them wins, encouragement and praise. No child is going to stick at it if the lose, aren't encouraged to continue and/or are told that that's bad play or whatever.
But above all for those under 10, FUN is the key. Let them have fun, let them enjoy it!
Yes, make it fun. But dont let them win on purpose. They can tell, and it makes it cheap. I take my 8 year old to a weekly all ages chess time at our library, and last week she beat an adult. (admitedly, the adult was a novice who made some serious mistakes). She was so incredibly proud. It ment something big that she won. The best thing for kids is to find ways for them to play games agaist other kids of their own skill level. Instead of letting them win games, give them odd of piece, or if you play with a clock give them a large time advantage to level the playing field.