Want Your Child to Think More and Scroll Less? Try Chess

by John Robert Adair

Chess is an easy game to learn. Maybe 5-10 minutes at most on how to move the pieces and

the object of the game. That’s it. What the game teaches your child are lessons to last a

lifetime.

The first thing the game does, is teach your child how to think ahead. Okay, you move there,

then I’ll move here. If you take my pawn with your pawn, then, I’ll take back your pawn with my

knight. You try to imagine what the position will look like in a move or two.

The second thing that chess does, is opens up the brain’s circuitry by using both the left and

right hemispheres of the brain. It causes an electrical flow across the whole brain, and forces

the two sides to communicate. In short, it teaches your child to think creatively.

So it stimulates the same type of brain activity that playing music does. It teaches your child to

look for new ideas. It develops in your child pattern recognition skills.

I learned to play by watching my father and step father play. I had just turned 10. This is an

excellent age to learn. Seven, eight, nine, ten … these are all excellent ages to learn to play.

The other thing that chess does is to improve memory and sharpens your focus. When you

play chess, you concentrate more. You’re trying to figure things out. You try to calculate

moves. It’s a game of “spatial” perception. You try to see the board and the position as it

could be several moves ahead.

Chess also teaches decision-making. Once you figure things out, you have to decide which is

the best move. You cannot skip a turn, you must choose the best plan of action .. and execute.

And finally, chess teaches your child the meaning of “good sportsmanship”. It’s part of chess

culture; the two players always shake hands before the game, and after the game. In chess,

there are three results: win, lose or draw. Either way, you always shake hands with your

opponent. Chess teaches respect. This in turn builds character.

Chess is a beautiful game. It’s loaded with creative possibilities. It’s the best gift you can give

your child or grandchild that isn’t on a screen.

So if your child is spending too much time on those electronic devices, or watching re-runs of

Bonanza, buy them a chess game with an acrylic foldable board. Don’t be surprised if they

take to it as a duck takes to water.

John Robert Adair is founder and former president of the Los Angeles Valley College Chess Club. He is

also the author of Chess Basics - A Tutorial for Beginning and Intermediate Players, and, Conceptos

About John Robert Adair