Gladys Whitcomb's husband, Jonathan, gives chess lessons to the children who are interested. For the younger, or less experienced chess players, he teaches the rules; for those who know the rules, he teaches tactics.

Jonathan Whitcomb is a former tournament chess player, having won the Pasadena Chess Club Junior Championship when he was a teenager and having attained the U.S.C.F. ranking of Class A (two levels below a master)
as a young adult. He also has years of experience teaching chess.

Once a beginner has learned the rules of chess, progress in playing ability depends on a number of things, including "looking ahead."

Soon, beginners may learn how to checkmate an opponent. After practicing simple checkmates, slightly more advanced aspects are explored, including "almost mates," and setting up mate.

One of the children in Whitcomb Family Daycare advanced in his training so as to see "removing the guard" tactics.