Chess Fun for Kids | 5 Benefits for the Whole Family

I was never much of a chess player!  In actual fact chess and fun would never be used in the same sentence and in my opinion, it was a total bore.

So imagine my surprise when both Logan and Oliver started enjoying it! 

Of course, seeing them enjoy it, led me on a little research adventure!

Chess Fun in Our Home

After years of trying to show Logan how fun reading is, I started experimenting with other ways of instilling skills I think is beneficial for him.  Chess, naturally wasn’t one of them!

Here are some of the ways we have been having fun with chess:

1. Teaching Mom Something New

Logan was stoked when he, with the help of A, could teach me something.  Beating me in chess was not half-bad either!

2. Quality Time

Chess helps us all to unwind in a constructive way.  It gives us an opportunity to forget everything that happened throughout the day and simply focus on something in a mindful way.  We get to laugh our way through the game and end up talking about what’s on our minds, without any other distractions.

3. Practising Constructive Competitiveness

We get to compete with each other.  Every now and then, there’s a little tantrum that leads to ugly competitiveness.  Especially when a key chess piece, is taken by our opponent.

As parents, it gives us the perfect opportunity to teach (and practice) constructive competitiveness!

4. Practising Perseverance

We all get to practice a bit of perseverance when having chess fun.  Logan gets frustrated when A beats him.  Oliver feels like giving up when a bunch of his pieces are taken.  Until of course, A sits in and takes him from losing to winning in a couple of moves.

Then, of course, there is the general perseverance that is taught, waiting until your opponent makes exactly the move you’ve been waiting for.

5. Applying Yourself

I noticed that I could go from studying calculus to enjoying a game of chess seamlessly.  Somehow, going from one mental task (calculus) to another mental task (chess)  – can actually be considered a constructive break.

We’re doing actually the exact same thing with Logan as his exam season approaches!

So there you have it, 5 ways in which chess benefits our family!  What do you do as a family and how does it benefit everyone?