Parenting Australia

Chess brings big benefits to little players.

Chess is no longer a minority game played in the dusty corners of libraries. The ancient game is making a comeback and children’s involvement is growing at a rate of approximately 143% each year in schools. Children find the game fun – because to them it is simply a ‘board game’ - and the huge cognitive and social benefits appeal to parents and teachers. Those wanting their children to gain maximum benefit from the game are starting to ask the question: ‘at what age can I introduce my child to chess?’. The answer may surprise, with children as young as three being able to grasp the basic concepts of the game and reap the benefits.

A child's brain is a like a rambling jungle. The more parts of the jungle you travel through, opening up pathways, the more able and capable that brain will be to learn new things throughout life. Whatever ways you can stretch a child's brain, particularly before the age of seven, can only increase their intellectual capability for the future. For a child of any age, the benefits of chess make for a long and impressive list, including essential mental aptitudes such as problem solving, abstract analysis, spatial aptitude, originality, concentration and memory. For very young minds in particular, chess helps to begin building the mental muscles required to become thinkers, analysers and rationalisers, developing core qualities that will be called upon during school years and in life generally. It introduces them to the world of learning in a fun way and develops an understanding of quiet concentration.

Through the play of chess, children also develop the ability to plan and consider consequences of their actions, and this is a skill a person is never too young to learn. With bullying and playground violence also a growing concern, chess is proving to have a great affect because of its ability to encourage children to look at situations calmly and rationally, consider the possible courses of action, the outcomes and then choose the best approach. Life is like a game of chess – there are decisions to be made and consequences for those decisions – so the game is an excellent way for young children to practice the core skills they will need to move successfully through life. Knowing that using your brain is as fun and enjoyable as kicking a ball is an important value to teach. It gives an opportunity for very young children to compete on an even footing with parents, which is great for self-confidence and gives families an interactive activity to enjoy together.

The most important thing to understand when teaching chess is that the attention span of children under five is very short – so parents need to create a fun and engaging environment using sounds, songs and actions to engage children and help them understand how the different chess pieces move. The learning process needs to be approached slowly and without pressure, teaching concepts first and allowing the children to explore the game for themselves and come to terms with the rules. Each child will have their own concentration limit. Try to extend the limit a little bit at a time. Initially a session may only last 10-15 minutes, but very quickly, even with children as young as four or five, concentration will extend to 30 minutes and eventually to an hour or more.

Article provided by David Cordover, Founder of Chess Kids.

www.chesskids.com.au 1300 424 377.

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