WAYS OF NATURING YOUR CHILD’S INTEREST IN CHESS

by Michael Griffin Michael

Teaching any skill to kids is not always easy. However, you can always nature their interest with motivation. Chess involves a lot of critical and analytical thinking. By training your child to play chess, you prepare them early to face the challenges of life as they gain problem-solving skills. Surprisingly, your child may even enjoy moving pieces on the chessboard before they even master the rules. To cultivate their interest, you can always enroll them in online chess lessons, which can help them instead of playing video games. That said, here is ways of naturing your child’s interest in chess.

Playing in their presence.

Kids always learn through imitating what adults do, especially their parents. And they love that. You will find them imitating the way you speak, the activities you do in the house, and many other things. One way of naturing your child's interest in chess is by playing in their presence. They will have the curiosity to learn to move the pieces as you do. As you play with your friend, please show them some strategies to move the pieces, and encourage them to try. By siding with you or your opponent, they are motivated to participate in the game and try a win. The next day you will find them imitating you by playing chess like you. Then you can find them chess professional to train them.

Spend quality time with them in chess games

When it's time for bonding with our kids, we always look for games to keep us engaged with them. Why not choose chess as a game to play with your kids. Pick up the board and ask them to give it a try. Always let them win, and you may be surprised that they want to play it with you every time. Kids love attention and when you have free time, invite them for a game of chess.

Reward them

Nothing motivates kids than promising them a reward after they complete a specific task. Do not play chess with your kids and not have a prize for them. Promise that particular toy that excites them, and they will put their all into competing with you at the game. They will always be looking forward to when they can play chess again and win. That way, they can implement all strategies you teach them to get the reward. The reward doesn't have to be big. A chocolate, cookie or a toy would work well.

Let them discover on their own

Chess is not like a dictionary where you have to summarize and cram all the moves to be better. It's a matter of analyzing your moves and logical thinking before you make a move. Start by training them on how to make their own chess board using toys. Then gradually introduce the chess techniques and how to discover new strategies for moving pieces. Grow their curiosity and let them find answers on their own. Surprisingly, you will find them reading chess books to discover new ideas about the game.

The bottom line

There are endless benefits of chess for kids. It improves their thinking skills, IQ, attention span, concentration, and spatial reasoning. Naturing your child's interest in chess is one way of giving them the best start in life. However, do not push them. Let them learn and play chess only if they want to.