10 Benefits Of Teaching Children To Play Chess

Chess is a game played – and loved – all over the world. Many people devote a lot of time and energy to enjoying it – but why is that, exactly? Sure, it’s an intellectual challenge, but what are the benefits of learning chess? And more specifically, what are the benefits of teaching children to play chess? If you’ve been thinking of teaching your child to play chess or they’ve expressed an interest in the game, don’t put it off. There are so many benefits of teaching children to play chess! Read on to find out how learning this game can benefit anyone, no matter their age.

Why Should I Teach My Child Chess?
Chess is a game that pits two minds against each other. There is no physical contact, just the board and two people who are ready to see who can out-strategize the other. Some people view chess as complicated and hard to learn, but while it does take time and energy to learn how to play, it’s worth it. Why? Because there are so many benefits, including academic advantages, your child could gain from mastering this game.

Academic Benefits Of Chess For Children
Chess is a game that can really benefit children who learn to play it on an academic level. Some of the top benefits include:

• Improved concentration and memory – Playing chess helps a person learn to concentrate and improves their memory in the process. The game requires sharp focus, and also enhances visual memory. Chess players have also shown improved auditory memory, which is recalling things you’ve learned through hearing.
• Better reading skills – Chess as a game may not involve reading words, but playing chess can help a child improve their reading skills. This is because the process of reading and learning involves analysis, comprehension, and understanding, all of which are harnessed when playing chess as you seek to overcome obstacles and solve problems.
• Heightened creativity – Chess involves thinking critically and involves being creative in the ways you seek to solve problems. Logic develops when playing chess as you consider tactics to win this complex game.
• Better planning – Chess isn’t a game you can play in the moment – it’s all about thinking a few steps ahead. Considering different outcomes and planning how to defeat your opponent is vital to mastering the game, so kids who play it typically have an increased ability to anticipate and design outcomes in their minds, making them excellent planners.
• Advanced strategic thinking – You have to have a strategy to play chess. The better your strategy, the better you are at the game. Chess teaches strategic thinking through rehearsal. This is a skill that translates well to school and, in later years, work.

Reasons To Teach Your Kids How To Play Chess
There are many reasons to teach your child to play chess:

• It raises IQ – It’s simply a fact that people who play chess are generally smart! Studies have shown that children who play chess have improved IQ scores after just four months of play.
• It changes their perspective – When you play chess against your opponent, you have to try to see the world through their eyes in order to anticipate their next moves. Learning to predict what others will do helps a child to develop their ability to see things from someone else’s perspective. This skill is a building block for healthy social relationships and empathy – things every parent wants their children to have.
• It helps them enter a flow state – When you’re in a flow state, it means you’re focused fully on something that you’re doing well, something that many people find very rewarding.
• It can help make therapy better – if your child is in therapy, playing chess may make their therapy more effective because it helps to increase their self-awareness. Sometimes, therapists or counselors will even play chess with patients to help build a better relationship with them, which helps them to show a child how to evaluate their responses and learn more about why they respond to certain things the way they do.
• It’s protective for the brain – Playing chess may help people protect their brains from cognitive decline such as dementia as they grow older. The mental flexibility required to play chess challenges critical thinking, visual-spatial skills, and calculations, which in turn can help reduce the risk of declining cognitively as they get older.
• It can help with anxiety – While this area needs to be studied more extensively, there’s some suggestion that people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks may find a better sense of calm to keep symptoms at bay by playing chess.

It’s important to note that there are some disadvantages that playing chess can bring about for children, but being aware of them can help you to avoid them. Mainly, it’s important not to stress your child out too much as you teach them to play. They will make mistakes, but being patient and gentle with them can go a long way in helping them learn to love the game.

Chess also takes a lot of time to learn. Practice is required in order to reap the benefits, so it can take a child years to learn to play proficiently. The results may not be seen overnight, but in the long run, chess has a ton of benefits, so it’s worth exploring if your child is interested. It’s your move!

Featured image by Randy Faith on Unsplash