The Speedsolving.com community trains 5 year old prodigy [emoji3]

wallstreet777

wallstreet777

Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2016
Messages
22
A couple of weeks back my son started learning how to solve the Rubik's Cube. Now that he can solve it, he takes it with him everywhere!

Here's a quick video of one of his solves

I never really spent time using a Rubik's Cube so this is all pretty new to me. I'd appreciate any advice on what I should have him practicing because I know he wants to get much faster.

Thanks everyone - I've learned a lot from this forum recently.




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Hello,

To start, I would get him a smaller cube. This will help him learn finger tricks more easily at an earlier age, because they are kind of impractical to learn until his hands get to the size that he could properly execute them. The quicker he can stop the wrist turning, the better. Here is a decent miniature cube:

https://thecubicle.us/mini-dayan-zhanchi-42mm-p-130.html

As for what he should learn, it really depends on his capacity to learn it. If he doesn't know notation, (R, R', B2, etc), definitely start with that. After that, it's really just a matter of him practicing his beginners method until he gets it to about a minute, even 45 seconds.
 
obelisk477 said:
Hello,

To start, I would get him a smaller cube. This will help him learn finger tricks more easily at an earlier age, because they are kind of impractical to learn until his hands get to the size that he could properly execute them. The quicker he can stop the wrist turning, the better. Here is a decent miniature cube:

https://thecubicle.us/mini-dayan-zhanchi-42mm-p-130.html

As for what he should learn, it really depends on his capacity to learn it. If he doesn't know notation, (R, R', B2, etc), definitely start with that. After that, it's really just a matter of him practicing his beginners method until he gets it to about a minute, even 45 seconds.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of this, but I think the 42mm cube is way too small. The 50mm ZhanChi is probably the way to go, in my opinion.
 
Nice :D

First of all learn fingertricks(as rami said)
And as DG said get him a cube that fits his hands.

Right now there is no need to learn anything new(other than fingertricks as I said) he can stick with this method and drop his times to about 1 minute(maybe faster?)
 
This. Is. Awesome.

My own $.02: I'd have him start learning to solve F2L pairs rather than layer by layer. Yeah, you can solve using LBL in 20 seconds but I don't think that means you should or that you should wait until you are sub XX. The only advantage I can think of for LBL is it's easier to learn intuitively and thus get you to the "being able to solve" stage faster. I think the moment you can solve comfortably with layer by layer it's time to move forward.

2-look PLL would save him a lot of moves over the beginner method without a lot of memorizing.

Finger tricks... it's fundamental and it doesn't hurt to start developing those as soon as possible but, at his age especially, I think it will develop quickly on its own through practice. I can't say not to practice it but I'd consider it less important at this stage than some others do.

Serious kudos to you for embracing his hobby!
 
Pretty nice solve :)

If you do want to get a cube that'll fit better in his hands, even a 55mm or 54.6 mm design will be just fine. The Zhanchi, even though I use and love the 50mm for OH, is a bit outdated. A 54.6 mm Weilong, or something newer, would be a more reliable cube.

But something worth noticing... he's already using one of the best cubes on the market AND says that he likes it. And liking the cube you have is really what it's all about. I've seen plenty of kids his age work with full size cubes, and it didn't look like this was giving Jayden(sp?) any real trouble. He'll only get better and better at using a full size cube.

Definitely gotta echo the fingertrick suggestions. The video Rami posted is legit the best video for a beginner to learn from. Starts with the very basics and works its way up.

It won't be long after that that Jayden(sp?) could start learning new techniques, like Intuitive F2L or a whole new LL system. It will also eventually be important to learn Notation so that he can read algorithms (if he doesn't know that already). But all in due time. I think he's off to a great start, and as long as he stays addicted, he'll know when he's ready to learn more stuff.
 
As others have stated, just follow a standard improvement guide after he learns CFOP. This is the easiest way to improve since there's a ton of resources available online for this method, and it isn't that hard to learn.
 
I really appreciate everyone's feedback - I'm starting learn more and more. I honestly didn't realize there were so many different ways to solve a Rubik's Cube.

Jayden seems to be comfortable with the cube he is using so I'm going to stick with it until he wants a change, I guess. I'm thinking it's better he continue to learn on a regular-sized cube?

I will spend time on the finger tricks video and get him started on them.

I'm also going to do more research on the method he should learn next. He's pretty comfortable with the beginner method. His solves are just over a minute now.

Again, thank you to everyone that has taken time to provide feedback, tips and suggestions. I will continue to update on his progress.

I wish there were clubs or camps of some sort for kids but haven't found anything really.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
wallstreet777 said:
I really appreciate everyone's feedback - I'm starting learn more and more. I honestly didn't realize there were so many different ways to solve a Rubik's Cube.

Jayden seems to be comfortable with the cube he is using so I'm going to stick with it until he wants a change, I guess. I'm thinking it's better he continue to learn on a regular-sized cube?

I will spend time on the finger tricks video and get him started on them.

I'm also going to do more research on the method he should learn next. He's pretty comfortable with the beginner method. His solves are just over a minute now.

Again, thank you to everyone that has taken time to provide feedback, tips and suggestions. I will continue to update on his progress.

I wish there were clubs or camps of some sort for kids but haven't found anything really.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I'd say the average age at a competition is 13 or 12. There will definitely be other kids competing who are under 10 if you do go to one.
 
wallstreet777 said:
I really appreciate everyone's feedback - I'm starting learn more and more. I honestly didn't realize there were so many different ways to solve a Rubik's Cube.

Jayden seems to be comfortable with the cube he is using so I'm going to stick with it until he wants a change, I guess. I'm thinking it's better he continue to learn on a regular-sized cube?

I will spend time on the finger tricks video and get him started on them.

I'm also going to do more research on the method he should learn next. He's pretty comfortable with the beginner method. His solves are just over a minute now.

Again, thank you to everyone that has taken time to provide feedback, tips and suggestions. I will continue to update on his progress.

I wish there were clubs or camps of some sort for kids but haven't found anything really.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Where are you located (roughly)? There are a few state clubs and things, but most of the time people just meet at competitions. In certain areas of the country, there are several competitions per month. Often, many of the kids there are young enough that he could probably get along with them
 
obelisk477 said:
Where are you located (roughly)? There are a few state clubs and things, but most of the time people just meet at competitions. In certain areas of the country, there are several competitions per month. Often, many of the kids there are young enough that he could probably get along with them
Click to expand...

We are just north of Chicago - I will have to look into this.


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wallstreet777 said:
We are just north of Chicago - I will have to look into this.


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Click to expand...

Chicago is (for some reason) a kind of dead area. The closest for you is going to be Minnesota, Ohio, Indianna and (of course the best of the group) Kansas City!

There is a competition in MN on the 10th of December, and I'll be doing one mid February probably here in KC. Don't know about Ohio or Indiana

I'd love I see you and your son at one of my come!
 
biscuit said:
Chicago is (for some reason) a kind of dead area. The closest for you is going to be Minnesota, Ohio, Indianna and (of course the best of the group) Kansas City!

There is a competition in MN on the 10th of December, and I'll be doing one mid February probably here in KC. Don't know about Ohio or Indiana

I'd love I see you and your son at one of my come!
Click to expand...

I'm surprised that there's nothing really out here.

The competitions sound like a blast! I will have to read up on the rules to better understand them.

Is there a breakdown by age or skill level? Or does everyone compete against each other?

At 5, will he be one of the youngest there? He's averaging around one minute now, does that put him more towards the middle or end of the group?

Thank you for all of the information!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
wallstreet777 said:
I'm surprised that there's nothing really out here.

The competitions sound like a blast! I will have to read up on the rules to better understand them.

Is there a breakdown by age or skill level? Or does everyone compete against each other?

At 5, will he be one of the youngest there? He's averaging around one minute now, does that put him more towards the middle or end of the group?

Thank you for all of the information!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yeah, competitions are sooo much fun! Everyone competes against everyone else; there aren't any age brackets or anything like that, but competitions are really more about beating your own times than beating anyone else's. 95% of people at competitions know they won't win, but they go to improve their times and hang out with friends (and of course make new ones).

5 years old is definitely on the younger end, but there are quite a few young kids at cubing competitions regardless. But really, people make friends with people of all ages. I've made friends through cubing who are multiple years apart from me, both older and younger.

A minute is generally closer to the end of the speed range; average is probably closer to 20 or 30 seconds, but all the people at competitions are really welcoming and I've never seen anyone put down or unwelcomed because of speed. My main piece of advice for you is, if there's a competition announced in your area, absolutely go! Competitions are basically the best days of any cuber's life, and I'm sure your son won't be disappointed. :)
 
wallstreet777 said:
I'm surprised that there's nothing really out here.

The competitions sound like a blast! I will have to read up on the rules to better understand them.

Is there a breakdown by age or skill level? Or does everyone compete against each other?

At 5, will he be one of the youngest there? He's averaging around one minute now, does that put him more towards the middle or end of the group?

Thank you for all of the information!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

You can find the WCA regulations (the rules) on worldcubeassociation.org.

Everyone competes in one group. It will be towards the back of the pack, but the competition part is not all that important, especially at his level. The important part is bonding with others that share a fairly niche hobby.
 
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