According to a study carried out by a team of researchers in Quebec in 2013 on 126 secondary school students, learning to play chess allows young people to improve their spatial sense. This cognitive skill is important in the development of children because it is involved in carrying out various mathematical tasks. This is not the only benefit that chess has on children’s cognitive development. Beyond the intellectual virtues, playing chess also provides benefits for the acquisition of interpersonal skills.
Arouse children’s interest with an attractive chess game
As you will discover, there is a lot of value in teaching your children to play chess. Many manufacturers have understood this, such as those on the mon-echiquier.com site. This French brand specializes in the sale of chess boards and chess accessories. It also offers customizable templates. Don’t hesitate to choose a beautiful, visually appealing wooden chessboard, which will inevitably attract your child’s attention.
The importance of chess for children’s cognitive development
Playing chess uses a variety of cognitive skills in children.
- Attention: players must pay attention to a multitude of details and perceive the game as a whole.
- Memory: on the one hand, there is learning prior to the game which must be available during the game: openings, strategies, tactics. On the other hand, working memory is heavily used during the game: the player must remember his calculations, the potential dangers and the possible resources at his disposal.
- Imagination: playing chess means creating an imaginary situation. The queen, the king, the bishop can only move while respecting strict rules. The child must anchor himself in an abstract scenario where various concepts specific to chess are activated, such as “taking a piece” or “defending a piece”. In addition, at a certain stage of the game, the player calls on his creative abilities, when a game situation does not refer to any other previously encountered.
The importance of failure for children’s behavioral development
Playing chess allows young people to acquire soft skills .
- Perseverance: playing chess stimulates the will to win and, in fact, perseverance: the child does not give up before having put his opponent in checkmate!
- Keep calm: faced with an unexpected blow from the opponent, the child must not allow himself to be destabilized and remain calm in all circumstances. Self-control is essential.
- Concentration: it is essential during a game of chess so as not to be distracted and to use your intellectual capacities to the maximum. The setting is important, it is best to play in a quiet place and be comfortable. The Montessori stool allows children to be both supported and free to move.
- Manage your thinking time: certain parts are carried out within allotted times.
- Decision-making ability: this is an essential quality for playing chess, as players are constantly faced with making irreversible decisions. In a game, the slightest mistake can cost victory. We must therefore learn to make the right choices!
By enjoying playing chess, children use both their cognitive and behavioral skills. The more these skills are stimulated, the more the child strengthens them. You have understood, chess is important for the development of children . It is therefore in your best interest to encourage them to play chess!
