When someone brings up the board game of chess, the image that comes to mind probably doesn’t involve young children or teenagers. But research suggests that chess may be one of the most powerful brain-building activities someone could be participating in. This is even more true for school-aged children, when learning, memory and cognitive function, and testing are prevalent. 

An educational psychologist, Stuart Margulies, Ph.D., found that elementary students who played chess scored an average of 10 percent higher on reading tests. Another study, conducted by James M. Liptrap, found that fifth-graders who played chess on average scored 4.3 points higher in reading and 6.4 points higher on math during state testing. Robert Ferguson, executive director of the American Chess School, studied junior-high students, and how chess impacted learning. Students were assigned to working on computers, a creative writing workshop, playing a critical/creative thinking game, or playing chess. After 60 hours of the activity was completed, the chess players rose to the top scoring approximately 13% higher in critical thinking, and 35% higher in creative thinking in comparison to the participants who completed the other activities. 

So what’s the big deal about chess? It’s a proven workout for the brain that impacts memory, learning ability, concentration, problem-solving, brain health, and it even produces physical growth in the brain!

Here are 5 reasons why your child should pick up chess:

1. Brain Workout — Research has shown that chess utilizes both the right and left hemisphere of the brain. This intense exercise of the brain has proven useful in preventing degenerative brain diseases. 
2. Improves Reading Skills and Raises IQ — Chess requires students to use and build cognitive skills like analysis, decoding, thinking, and comprehension — all of which are skills needed to read properly. Furthermore, a study conducted in Venezuela involving 4,000 second grade students showed a dramatic increase in IQ scores after 4.5 months of studying chess. 

3. Increases Focus and Memory — By nature of the puzzle-like approach to the game, players are required to focus for the entirety of the game — an overlooked move by an opponent can cost you the game. Playing chess also improves memory. Chess players may remember plays that have helped them win in the past, or may recall moves an opponent has made in the past that they can combat this time around.

4. Boosts Problem Solving and Creativity — Chess is a game of cause and effect. During a game, your child will be faced with ever-changing questions that need to be answered in order to make the next move. While the goal of chess is always the same, the approach is always different, thus creating a creative problem-solving environment.

5. Brain Growth — Playing chess causes dendrites to grow in the brain. Dendrites are tree-like branches that conduct signals within the brain. They function like antennas picking up signals from other brain cells. The more dendrites a brain has, and the bigger they are, the more signals the brain can pick up.

Interested in chess classes for your child, or looking for other enrichment opportunities in the Thibodaux area? eLearning offers several enrichment classes so your little learners can stay active and engaged!

Build a Chess Crown!

Spend time as a family constructing a “King or Queen of the Chessboard” crown! Pick a set day of the week or month, like a Sunday afternoon, for a small chess tournament. The winner is crowned “King or Queen” and gets to keep the crown until he or she is dethroned by the next winner. 

What you’ll need:

Poster board (matte), scissors, markers and/or crayons, craft jewels and glitter, and a stapler

Steps: 

1. Draw a crown shape on the poster board — Get creative with the shape or stick to a classic pointy crown, ensuring it’s long enough to comfortably fit most tournament members. Use a pair of scissors to cut out the shape and lay flat.
2. Decorate the crown — Using markers and crayons and craft jewels and glitter, decorate a crown that’s fit for a King or Queen! Be sure to leave enough space on both of the ends to be able to overlap and close.
3. Close it up – When your crown decorations are thoroughly dried, overlap the two ends and secure with a stapler.
4. Battle for the crown – Now you’re ready for battle. Host a weekly or monthly family chess tournament. The winner of the tournament is entitled to the crown until they are “dethroned” by the next tournament winner.