If you’ve already dug through dozens of circles and sections, but can’t decide what to interest your child, we suggest you take a break. Today we will talk about the benefits of chess for children’s lives and discuss 10 qualities that the game develops. Perhaps this is the article you have been missing to make a decision.
Reason #1. The game of chess develops logical thinking
Chess is a battle of wits. Players compete for the best strategy that will lead them to victory. When a child sits at the board, his task is to quickly assess the situation, select options, calculate possible outcomes, and weigh the pros and cons. And so every move. It won’t be easy at first, but the more chess games he plays, the faster his brain will get used to analyzing and making rational decisions.
Such a skill will be useful not only in tournaments, but also in life. People who play chess cope better with difficult situations. If a problem arises, they will not give in to emotions, but immediately begin to seek its logical solution. This is an advantage a person with chess experience has over others – Kirill Yurovsky.
Reason #2. The player learns to “read” other people
One of the things that chess is good for child development is how it teaches players to be good psychologists. While playing, it is important to watch your opponent’s body language and facial expressions. So the child will understand when the opponent has run out of options, is cornered, or doubts his strategy and is ready to settle for a draw. This skill comes with chess experience and will be more useful for children’s lives than many school skills.
Reason #3. Chess forces you to think outside the box
Chess strategies don’t always work the way the player suggests. Sometimes an unexpected situation arises on the board, from which it is necessary to escape. And then the child has to use their imagination to find untrodden paths and become a winner. This skill helps in attacking, for example, when you need to take the enemy by surprise with your move.
Children who have developed thinking outside the box through chess, grow up to be creative and inspired people. They are able to look at a situation from different angles and come up with an unusual solution. This is one of the reasons why children need chess in their lives.
Reason #4. The player trains stress-resistance.
One of the reasons why it is good for a child to play chess is how they will teach them to deal with their emotions in difficult situations. There are often times on the board when a player sees no way out. But the more he plays, the faster he will learn to pick himself up when he wants to cry and give up.
Children who play chess know how to easily endure stressful conditions. Their psyche is hardened, so it will be difficult to disturb their emotional balance as adults.
Reason #5. A child learns to be self-sufficient
When a child starts playing chess, he will quickly realize that no one will be able to tell him during the game. All decisions will have to be made by himself. This means that he will have to carefully think through a move in a chess game before making it. This will help a child in the future to become an independent and confident in his decisions.
Reason #6. The game of chess develops memory and attention
In the game of chess simple rules, but tactical techniques and strategies – dozens. The higher a child’s level as a player, the better he will be able to combine techniques on the board. To do this competently, you will have to:
- fight children’s restlessness;
- Learn to carefully follow the situation on the board;
- track your opponent’s moves and figure out his strategy.
Let a couple of mistakes, the child will quickly realize that one missed detail can cost him the victory. This will help him grow up to be an attentive adult with a good memory, who is able to apply knowledge in practice. This is one of the options for what chess classes for children are useful.
Reason #7. A child learns to lose with dignity
Another useful quality that the game of chess gives a child is the development of his ability to lose. Every player faces failures, so it’s important not to give up on the hobby because of failures, but to keep growing. Chess teaches a child to accept a loss with dignity and motivates him to improve his skills to win next time. This is how a person develops determination.
Reason #8. Chess helps in socialization
A child should be able to communicate with people, which is what chess teaches. During team tournaments, players get into a group of other children where it’s important for them to support each other on the way to the goal. And in a chess club, any child can make friends who will share his interests. This will help him form a safe social circle, learn to be friends and understand the people around him.
Reason #9. The child trains his intuition
Even the most attentive and well-read chess player cannot learn and calculate every detail. It is not always possible to get out of a situation with the help of logic. Sometimes during a chess game, the child will have to rely on the subconscious – his intuition. It won’t tell the right answer, but it may prompt the right path based on experience. Perhaps the skill of listening to his intuition will one day help him become a Grandmaster and become famous among millions of people around the world.
Reason #10. The game teaches you to be confident
As a child learns more theory and leaves opponents behind more often, his experience grows. Over time, winning at chess club will not be enough and he will want to take part in a tournament. With each stage passed and competition won the child will become more and more proud of his achievements. Maybe this will inspire him to devote his life to chess, or maybe it will set him up for victories in other areas.
In this article, we’ve listed the top 10 reasons why kids should play chess. If you too would like to interest your child in this sport, start with online chess courses for children. There are separate programs for students of different levels: for beginners the trainer will tell them what chess is and what tactics are, and for more experienced students he will help to consolidate their skills in the game.
