Chess also teaches children to be calm, especially when it is their turn to make a move. Players must give their opponent time to formulate a move, which means as kids play the game they learn the importance of being patient. As parents, we know 7-year-olds have difficulty waiting, and chess is all about waiting. One of the most important skills chess can teach your 7-year-old is patience. Strategic thinking skills are extremely important not just in school, but in life.

Moves build on one another to form a strategy while still reacting to what your opponent is doing. To be successful, players must think three or four moves ahead. The game also helps enhance a child’s thinking skills. Unlike other board games, chess isn’t a game of chance. Getting first graders and even older kids to focus to complete homework, chores and other tasks can be extremely frustrating for parents, but teaching your child to play chess and regularly engaging in games improves their overall concentration. Seven-year-olds have short attention spans. Leave a magnetic travel chessboard in the car, and you’ll always have a fun and educational way to keep kids busy offering educational benefits. Unlike smartphones and iPads, WiFi is not necessary to play, and a chessboard doesn’t need to be charged. Chess is the perfect game for long car trips, rainy days, waiting in a restaurant, or when kids are bored around the house. A 7-year-old can play with their peers or older players. People of all ages can play, and even an expert can learn something from playing with a novice. There are also no age limits when it comes to playing chess. Whether it’s chess in the park or at a nearby library, the game is a social one. A local or school chess club is a wonderful social activity because players discuss the strategies of the game afterward, which can lead to other shared interests. Chess players win and lose gracefully something kids don’t necessarily take away from a sporting event where tantrums are commonplace. As an age-old gentleman’s game, sportsmanship is extremely important.

It might not seem so because the game doesn’t involve a lot of chatting, but chess is great for improving your child’s social skills. Playing chess doesn’t just make a child a better student but the game has other advantages as well. Many parents would love the thought of kids putting down the video game controller in favor of a chessboard and with good reason.

When these skills are on point, it translates to a more attentive and capable student. Why? The game challenges the mind and sharpens vital analytical, problem-solving, attention, and memory skills. The takeaway from other related studies is that playing chess makes kids smarter. Researchers there discovered children who regularly played chess had better attention spans and visual memory skills. Other studies, like one conducted by the University of Memphis, had similar findings. Stuart Margulies concluded overall reading scores improved in participants who were taught to play chess. Why should kids learn to play chess? Eric Cote/ShuttestockĪ two-year study by Dr. If you’re wondering when is a good age to teach your child to play chess, seven is a perfect time to introduce your child to the game because a lot of important lessons come from those 32 pieces. Of course, not every 7-year-old who plays chess is destined to become the next Bobby Fisher, but playing chess is an excellent activity for kids and teens.

Chess online for kids