Benefits of Playing Chess with Your Kids
Chess is a reasonably long and involved game that requires patience, focus and lateral thinking. The benefit of learning chess at an early age is capturing these skills in the early stages of brain development. Surprisingly, kids love playing this game as they can relate to the 3-dimensional characters that bring greater understanding of what they are trying to achieve. All the while, the brain is being exercised and skills are being developed.
Chess is a game that uses both parts of your brain. As we get older, we use one side of our brain more than the other. This means the other side of the brain becomes inactive. The more we use both sides of the brain, the more we function at higher capacity. We remain sharper and can increase our memory. Chess is a game that presents an opportunity for parents to get involved; it helps to get children learning without the constant pressure of homework and brings you closer to your kids in a fun and enjoyable way. When you're involved in learning through games, it takes the pressure off from the teaching aspect, adds an opportunity to bond with your children and makes a better learning experience for all.
A study in 1991 looked at the reading performance in primary schools of a particular district that was below the national average. They made a comparison between children who played chess versus children that didn't play chess. The study showed that the children who played chess performed above the national average for reading skills, and those that didn’t play chess performed below the national average. The study concludes that chess enhances greater brain activity, which benefits learning overall.
Chess is one of the most strategic and a creative game that has been assisting people for many decades. The skills that are obtained by learning and playing this game are endless and one that will enhance your lifelong learning, lateral thinking and brain strength overall.
1. Chess helps you Concentrate
It's a reasonably long and involved game. It helps the kids to concentrate and once kids start loving it, they get into it immensely.
2. Chess Develops Problems Solving Skills
Chess is a game where the end goal is to take out your opponents King. Your child will start thinking about many different ways to achieve the goal while still remembering to protect the own kingdom. The strategic thinking and problem solving skills are being developed with the help of this game and children are able to use these skills in their everyday activities.
3. Chess Improves Your Memory and Focus
Chess stretches your mind just by remembering how all these different pieces move which focus and expands the brain cells as they get better by remembering different activities. There are many more moves that can be learnt as well.
4. Playing Chess Uses both sides of Your Brain
Chess is a great 3D game which exercises both parts of your brain. As we get older we focus on using one side of our brain more than the other. However, the more we use both sides of the brain, the better for us in the long run. Brains need to be used and exercised to function at their maximum capacity.
5. Playing Chess Can Raise Your IQ.
6. Chess Teaches Planning and Foresight
7. Chess Helps with Strategic Thinking
8. Chess Improves Your Attention Span
When you're involved and enjoying any activity you're more likely to concentrate for longer. Do that frequently and you'll soon improve your attention span and the attention span of your kids.
9. Chess Improves Reading Skills
A study in 1991 looked at the reading performance in primary schools of a particular district that was below the national average. They made a comparison between children who played chess versus children that didn't play chess. The study showed that the children who played chess performed above the national average for reading skills, and those that didn’t play chess performed below the national average. The study concludes that chess enhances greater brain activity, which benefits learning overall.
10. Chess Increases Creativity.
Creativity is linked with the right side of your brain. Chess helps your children come up with original, creative thoughts. All those benefits develop just from playing a game. The best part of all these brain-related activities while playing chess is that they will come naturally. You just play chess and have fun. You don't need to worry about the benefits; it's not like sitting down to study a book. It's great for your kids!
