Famous author Arnold Edinborough once said, “Curiosity is the very basis of education.” And I guess we can all agree to the fact that children are one of the most curious beings on this planet, right? They are absolutely adorable and fun to be around! Give them a toy or a game and they can keep themselves entertained for hours.
We previously talked about the benefits of chess for people in general, but what about for children specifically? This articles explores the benefits of children playing chess.
As children grow older, their inquisitive minds try to learn new things. Be it an academic subject or a musical instrument. Be it a sport or a language. Their curiosity has no bounds when they are interested in a particular thing.
Now imagine this – what if your child learns a new skill which he or she thoroughly enjoys and at the same time acquires critical life skills from it! Sounds like an amazing deal right? Learning the beautiful game of Chess will do exactly that.
Read on to know why children should definitely learn Chess.
Chess is like a Gym for the Mind
The game of chess is a wonderful mental sport. Not only does it inculcate the ability to think critically, but it also develops foresight. As your child learns and dives into this game more and more, you will observe how he or she is able to see two to three moves ahead and predict the opponent’s moves! It might sound like a magic trick right now, but trust me, it is definitely possible.
Children also learn the skill to calculate combinations and possible variations. Many studies have shown a strong correlation between this ability and children’s improvement in mathematics in school! Pattern recognition is also a very important aspect of chess and is beneficial in a lot of fields.
Patience is the Key to Success and Chess is the master key for learning patience
No other sport teaches you the importance of patience quite like Chess. Just like great things take time to become, getting better at Chess too requires tons of patience. But, it is not just that. Children learn to wait for their turn to play and learn to respect their opponent’s thinking time. This element develops steadiness in them.
You will definitely see your children become more calm, patient and collected after they start learning chess. As a coach, I have seen many kids undergo this transition and their parents are very happy with these results.
Building a Memory Palace
It is no surprise that a mental sport like Chess facilitates the creation of a good memory. We all know the importance of possessing a strong memory. Be it in academics or in your professional career, the ability to carefully remember things always comes handy.
There are many studies which show that Chess boosts a person’s capacity to memorize stuff. This improvement will definitely reflect in your child’s academics and their overall life.
Sometimes You Lose, and That’s Okay
Life isn’t always fair, and as adults we have learnt this by now. However, many times it is very difficult for children to come to terms with this. The sooner your child understands that it is okay if things don’t go their way sometimes, the easier will the transition be for them.
Chess is an excellent way to develop this understanding! In this game, you might win some games and you might lose some games. The losses will help the children understand that a single defeat is not the end of the world. We always have the next game to play and get better! The ability to healthily accept defeat and learn from the experience is a skill that will be useful for their entire life.
Be a Sherlock Holmes In Your Own Right
Just as problem-solving and creative thinking were the forte of Sherlock Holmes, your child too can do those things with ease after learning chess! We all know the importance of overcoming difficulties with methodical thinking and chess teaches us just that.
Solving puzzles, finding checkmates, assessing variations etc develop an amazing problem-solving attitude. Spotting novelties, finding brilliancies etc boost the ability to think creatively. These two skills help build great approaches in life. Your child will see every obstacle as just another problem to be solved and not be afraid of it.
The Spirit of Never Giving Up
We all know the importance of the “Gonna fight till the end” attitude! It works wonders and teaches us the crucial skill of never giving up in the face of adversities. Learning chess will surely teach this to your children.
In a single game of chess, there can be many ups and downs. Mistakes can be made and brilliancies can be found. Possessing the power of never giving up will teach your child to play on till the end, even after making a mistake. And many times, they are able to make a comeback and draw or win the game despite making a mistake.
Conclusion
Famous Norwegian psychologist and Nobel prize winner May-Britt Moser has rightly said, “It is so important to allow children to bloom and to be driven by their curiosity.”
If your child is interested in the game of Chess and is curious about it, I wholeheartedly suggest you enroll him or her in a chess class! Let your child’s curiosity have wings so that he or she can explore it as much as possible.
Chess is a beautiful game that serves many purposes. It is not necessary that your children should pursue it professionally and become a Grandmaster. Even if they learn it just as a skill, the benefits of Chess are multifold.