| |
Chess, the Best Teacher of All
|
|
|
I recently played a game of chess with my 12 year old nephew, and I
found it tough. I gave up. He was winning. It had been at least ten
years since I’d played.
The pinnacle of my chess game had been in grade two, when I took great
pleasure in being the only kid who could remember how each token moved
differently. I was very proud of playing a grown-up game.
I won often, playing against novice children who just moved the pieces
willy-nilly. Their attention span would invariably waver toward the
dodge ball game outside, so checkmate was inevitable. Triumph! I played
with my patient father whenever he had some time to squeeze between
factory shifts. I solemnly studied chess magazines and practiced. I was
in way over my head, but I loved it.
A few years went by. Then I learned something I never forgot.
There was a family we visited when we went up north. The dad was a big
chess guy, and he was happy for an eager opponent. My father told me to
play Mr. Bill if I wanted to learn to play well. So I did. Oh, I
played. I played and I played and I played. And I never won. On
occasion, he would graciously point out the errors of my ways, or the
strategy behind his moves. He was a patient man. The games were short
and easy for him. We played endlessly. And I got more and more defeated
and disheartened when I kept losing. When are you going to let me win?
I asked Mr. Bill. I hated losing. But Mr. Bill wasn’t into child
psychology and never pretended to lose. He just slaughtered me without
mercy. I was crushed.
And then one day, a miracle happened. I won. I won! After my jubilancy
simmered to a dull roar, I asked Mr. Bill, “Why did you let me win
today?”
And Mr. Bill replied, “I didn’t.”
It took a while for the full impact to register. I had REALLY won.
I never won against Mr. Bill again. But it didn’t matter. But sadly,
since there was no one to play with where we lived, I gradually forgot
about chess. As I became a teenager, there were new preoccupations like
acne, Michael Jackson, and church youth group.
Fast forward. My nephew is a very special guy. He’s quiet and doesn’t
get into much trouble. He has to work hard for his grades and struggles
with dyslexia and other learning challenges. But I’ve always felt he
was extremely keen and mature in ways that other kids weren’t, despite
the so-called obstacles. David’s favourite pastime is- get this-
helping his father load scrap metal into a trailer or shoveling snowy
driveways for a few bucks. He has a real tool kit- he’s never had a toy
one. He can make things and fix things.
When David challenged me to chess, I did some digging online to find
some resources for kids. I thought it would be good for his self-esteem
to master the prestigious game of geniuses. And I came across some
advice that took me right back to Mr. Bill’s. “You have to lose a
hundred games of chess before you even know how to play.”
Sifting through the kids’ resources, it didn’t take five minutes to
realize something shocking: middle aged or not, I am an absolute
beginner. Chess is complex and majestic. It is difficult for even a
computer to master. It requires tremendous foresight, bravery,
imagination, calculation. Knowing how to play is challenging enough,
but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Chess is the only game where
the entire win or lose rests on the player- there is no luck of the
draw whatsoever, no dice, no cards. No chance but the ones the player
takes herself. This is a game of kings- is it really a game for kids?
Yes, yes, yes. Everyone should learn to play chess in his lifetime.
Most kids won’t go on to world tournaments or make the championship.
But just learning how to play is itself an achievement. It would be
wise for parents and grandparents to team up with children and learn
and play chess together, since chess exercises old brains and helps
sharpen fuzzy neurons. Playing fosters a number of critical skills and
qualities that benefit kids of all ages.
• self-esteem
• problem-solving
• strategic thinking
• develop critical thinking
• weighing risks
• taking risks
• humility
• helps develop solution-based thinking
• teaches the importance of weighing many options
• teaches the consequences of impulsive decision making
• fosters pride in underachievers and learning-challenged kids
• remedies boredom or under-stimulation of gifted kids
• teaches responsibility
• teaches reading, writing and arithmetic
• builds and improves memory
• teaches sportsmanship
• increases concentration and focus
• practices evaluation and analysis skills
• makes you smarter: many studies say chess raises overall IQ- it doesn’t
just exercise it!
• fosters creativity
• improves organizational abilities
• improves verbal reasoning ability
• chess promotes the growth of synapse connections and dendrites-
meaning, it grows your brain!
• “punishes” and “rewards” problem solving, teaching as you play
• improves motivation
• instills confidence
• appeals to and benefits boys and girls equally
• totally affordable- chess sets are ubiquitous second-hand, and new sets
range from a few bucks to millions, depending what you want to play
with
• relieves boredom
• teaches consequences to actions
• quality time between friends and family members
• meet new people
• get to know how other people think
• fun
How’s that for starters? As Dr. Robert C. Ferguson said, “Chess is
everything!”
I picked up a cheap magnetic travel chess board at a toy store, and now
I’ve committed to carrying it in my purse. That way I’m prepared to
play if the opportunity arises over coffee or an unexpected meeting. I
hope David and I will learn together- there are some great resources
for chess history, lore, strategies, and puzzles. But the most
important thing is practice, practice, practice- a great way to spend
more time together.
Online Resources
Professor Chess
This resource is almost too massive- there is so much tremendous
quality information that it is mind boggling. But parents of kids who
are really into the game will be thankful for Professor Chess.
Thousands of tips, ideas, puzzles, articles, games, and more. Just a
very few topics include: chess classroom, move prediction exercises,
biographies of admired chess players, checkmate practice, ideas for
school chess clubs, vision exercises, score sheets, puzzles,
certificates for coaches to give out in clubs and tournaments, and
computer games. Wow. A bargain for $10-$24 dollars- saves you sifting
through a zillion sites that promise “free” but are anything but.
http://www.professorchess.com/
Benefits of Chess
This fascinating page, put together for teachers and parents by Dr.
Robert C. Ferguson, details in one place many studies, experiments, and
statistics about chess and how it benefits skills and esteem in kids.
http://www.quadcitychess.com/benefits_of_chess.html#why
Chess Institute of Canada
“Chess Institute of Canada is a non-profit organization with the
singular goal to use the game of chess to teach kids essential life
skills and improve the world. We offer learning programs in schools in
downtown Toronto, weekend chess clubs and summer camps.”
Chess clubs, chess camps, fun giant chess games at fairs and
celebrations, tournaments, private lessons. Since chess improves math
skills and visualization skills, the Chess Institute sometimes takes
its programs to low-income communities when it can.
http://www.chessinstitute.ca/
Chess Kid
Brightly coloured website to appeal to playful youngsters. Kids can
play online chess tournaments at all skill levels, and learn to play
through online videos, instructions, cartoons, and challenges. Free to
join, with lots of info for parents and coaches, too.
http://www.chesskid.com/
Kids Chess
This site is actually for kids near Atlanta, Georgia, so some of it may
be irrelevant to most of you. But there are quite a few colourful game
lessons for children, videos, and puzzles. The best feature is Easy
Chess for beginners, where kids (or adults like me) play against a
computer. The difference between this game and other easy computer
components is that the computer makes random moves. Since the computer
is not trying to win, it allows new players to see good and bad moves
on her opponent’s part, and how they affect her pieces and strategies.
It also helps reluctant kids who need the affirmation of winning on
occasion, especially while they are learning.
http://www.kidchess.com/gamestoplay.html |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
