Is Chess good for a Child?♟️
Parents may wonder if chess is good for a child. The answer is an emphatic “Yes”! When considering activities for primary grades, chess is an option right up there with soccer team and piano lessons. Studies show that chess is good for a child. It provides a significant boost in building skills essential for success in school as well as throughout life. Chess is good for a child’s development in critical thinking due to the deep analysis and logical reasoning required to play the game successfully. You can help unlock all the powerful tools of chess play for your child by enrolling in a weekly club such as Excel Academy’s.
Chess is good for a child in the classroom
Chess exercises both sides of the brain: The analytical left side of the brain looks for the next logical move. The creative right side of the brain searches for and detects new patterns and possibilities. This dual brain activity is good for a child’s intelligence and creativity.
The game of chess provides abilities that improve performance at school: Chess teaches core math and verbal skills, promotes information retention, critical thinking and is has even shown in some cases to increase IQ. All together these benefits offer a real edge in the classroom day-to-day as well as in test-taking.
We all speak the same language in chess: With 64 squares of safe space, the game offers a true common ground and leveled playing field for children from a wide range of backgrounds, interests and native languages.
Chess is good for a child’s life skills development
Playing chess develops key qualities of sportsmanship: Playing a game is inherently fun, regardless of the outcome. During the course of play over time, children learn the consequence of a bad move and how to handle that type of adversity. An official chess game concludes with a handshake, which makes for a show of dignity and humility between the losing and winning opponents.
Children obtain social-emotional growth through chess: The nature of the game depends upon learning to explore and consider the thinking and emotions driving the person playing on the other side of the board. This teaches important social skills that lead to greater emotional intelligence and capacity for empathizing with others.
Chess fosters valuable skills for success: The game requires patience, problem-solving, planning and the ability to remain calm under pressure. These sorts of qualities prove critical in achieving high performance at school, in career and other high value pursuits. Tenacity is often seen as a strong predictor for success. Chess fosters this trait through repetition and growth in the game’s scenarios. Players learn by working through each one, biding their time as moves play out and course correcting based on results. Over time this process instills an ability to avoid the temptation of making the easy move for instant gratification
When Should a Child Begin to Play Chess?
An introduction to the chess board and piece names may begin as early as ages 4 or 5. Generally ages 6 to 7 make an ideal time for learning game rules, principles and rudimentary tactics. Regular participation in an instructional chess program with qualified tutors, such as Excel Academy’s Chess Club, provide the best opportunities for children to fully derive all the benefits of playing chess.
