When we teach mindfulness to kids, we give them the tools they need to build confidence, cope with stress, and relate to uncomfortable or challenging moments. The earlier we do so in their young lives, the greater the opportunity to help them cultivate resilience. These days Kids tend to be busier than adults, their timetable is full of activities to keep up with, which is why it becomes important for them to engage in some activity which helps them to manage the chaos.
Teaching mindfulness to kids in school can also help shape three critical skills developed in early childhood: attention span and remembering information, shifting back and forth between tasks, and behaving appropriately with others. These abilities are known as executive functions and they are essential for more advanced tasks like planning, reasoning, problem-solving, and positive social relationships. We need to indulge children in something that helps them have fun and in the meanwhile teaches them all this. In the beginning of this century when people played games they mostly were strategic, having a deep thought or a motive. Games like Chess, Monopoly were played to devise a strategy, apparently they are also played for fun.
Why specifically chess for children ?
Our ancestors solved battleground problems through chess. The kings strategize their action plan for the war on the board. It helped them to plan their moves prior & have a better sense of the consequences. Imagine What wonders would it do for children?
Chess helps kids to think logically, improves their decision-making skills & helps them take initiative. It makes them take responsibility for their actions and majorly fosters self-awareness. Chess empowers children and helps them become better Individuals. Ever seen or met a child who plays chess regularly, what are the things you’ve observed?
Kids who have chess as a part of their daily routine appear to be extremely poised, resilient , patient & sensible to talk to. They know how to lead a conversation, they know how to invest their energies wisely.
How does that happen?
It happens because chess helps to use both sides of the brain. When a child plays a chess game, every move makes them confident because it allows them to take ownership. Every loss is also a win because in return they are learning to accept their defeats. Some days they teach their opponent a lesson and on the other days their opponent teaches them one.
How to Learn Chess the Right Way & Where?
Live online Chess classes are a resourceful way to help the kids learn chess from the comfort of their home. Personalized one on one chess classes help children understand the game better, because they get undivided attention from the coach, and open communication helps kids to understand and ask questions freely. Enrolling them in chess class helps them to dedicate themselves towards achieving a goal.
Chess is better learnt in stages. Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced. Every stage helps the kid to understand the game in depth.
HobSpace.com is a chess platform where kids can learn chess with the help of an extensive curriculum.
What behavioral changes happen due to chess?
All children are born with a problem solving ability. Learning to play chess does help to decrease the reaction time of children who play. The aim is to introduce them to chess and teach it in a way that allows the child to think differently and laterally. They learn the skills that will help them to problem solve more effectively when faced with a situation.
The skills developed by children learning how to play chess will give them more time to think and to consider some other choices before responding either verbally, physically or inappropriately.
Most times, and in given situations, there are many choices that are available to children. Some children and young people may not be aware of what these are, so together with a hasty response and the speed with which they react to situations, the likelihood is that they will regularly clash with parents, teachers or those in authority.
Some children may not quite understand or have the ability to slow down and consider these other choices. Quite a few just don’t know how to use those vital seconds to think about what these other choices are and to choose one that is different from that which comes to mind straight away.
These wrong choices often lead to all kinds of additional problems and conflicts for them to deal with which mostly have unfavorable outcomes.
Therefore, it is important to understand how you explore chess for your kids, it decides how they are going to perceive the game.
