As a chess coach who has run school chess clubs for years, I've seen how chess helps children develop important skills. You might wonder why your child should play chess. From my experience, chess is more than a game — it's a way to help children learn valuable life skills.
Through coaching, I've watched children become more confident, learn to handle challenges and improve their focus. Whether it's thinking ahead or managing the pressure of a match, chess teaches lessons that go beyond the board. I've seen students who used to struggle with concentration become more attentive, both during chess and in their classroom learning. Chess helps children develop patience, make better decisions, and improve their social skills.
As a parent, you're looking for practical reasons to encourage your child's chess learning. In this article, I'll share the benefits of chess for kids based on my experience leading school chess clubs and some interesting scientific research. And here is what we will cover today:
How chess boosts cognitive development in kids
Emotional benefits of chess for kids
How chess helps kids with creativity
Are there academic benefits of playing chess for kids?
How chess boosts cognitive development in kids
One of the most noticeable benefits of chess is how it sharpens a child’s mind. I've seen how chess helps children develop important mental skills. Chess challenges the brain and can improve your child's cognitive abilities in several key areas:
Memory and concentration
Chess requires players to memorise rules, strategies, and past games. When children practise regularly, their ability to focus improves significantly. For example, I’ve seen students who initially struggled to pay attention during lessons develop the ability to concentrate for long stretches of time during games. This improved focus carries over to schoolwork, helping them retain information and study more effectively.
Problem-solving skills
Every chess game is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Your child must think critically, plan several moves ahead, and adapt to unexpected challenges from their opponent. This constant problem-solving improves their ability to approach challenges in other areas, such as maths or science. I’ve worked with many children who have significantly improved their nonverbal reasoning and even found it easier to tackle tough homework questions after playing chess regularly.
Planning and foresight
In chess, every move matters, and children quickly learn the importance of planning. They must think about not just their next move, but also how it will affect the game many steps ahead. This skill translates directly into real life, where planning and foresight are essential for success. For instance, students learn to manage their school projects better by breaking tasks into smaller, logical steps — just like planning their moves on the chessboard.
IQ and logical reasoning
Playing chess activates both sides of the brain, improving logical thinking and pattern recognition. One widely cited study conducted in Venezuela involved over 4,000 second-grade students. The group attended weekly chess lessons for 4.5 months. Once the experiment ended, researchers reported significant increases in the students’ IQ scores. This improvement was consistent across different socio-economic groups and for both boys and girls.
The study’s results were so promising that chess became a mandatory subject in Venezuelan schools during the late 1980s.
Executive skills
Chess helps you to think more clearly and make better decisions. It helps your children to plan and manage their time. For example, when a child is learning chess, they learn to think about lots of things at the same time, like what their opponent might do next, but still do their own thing.
Emotional benefits of chess for kids
Chess is often praised for its cognitive benefits. However, you should know that there is also an emotional impact on children. In our practice, we’ve seen kids grow emotionally stronger through chess. After a few months of regularly playing, kids often develop traits that help them in life. There are three qualities that develop over time.
Resilience and patience. Chess teaches children how to handle setbacks. Every player experiences losses, and learning to accept them gracefully is an important lesson. Kids who initially got frustrated over losing become more patient and determined over time. They learn that mistakes are part of growth and that hard work pays off. This resilience spreads to other areas, like school or sports.
Confidence building. When a child succeeds at chess, even in small ways, it builds their confidence. The game requires players to make independent decisions, and they quickly realise that their choices directly affect the outcome. Whether it's planning a strong attack or avoiding a mistake, the ability to trust their judgment gives them a sense of empowerment.
Stress management. Chess places kids in high-pressure situations, such as managing time on a clock or making critical decisions when the game is on the line. These moments teach them how to stay calm under stress and think clearly. Over time, this ability to manage pressure becomes second nature, helping them in exams, or any situation that requires focus under pressure.
How chess helps kids with creativity
When we think about chess, strategy and logic often come to mind, but creativity is just as essential. Watching children play chess in school clubs has shown me how this game encourages them to approach challenges in unique ways. Chess isn’t just about following rules — it’s about exploring possibilities.
One way chess raises creativity is by teaching children to think flexibly. A single move can open countless possibilities, and children must choose the path they believe offers the best chance of success. This process requires them to imagine different scenarios and outcomes before deciding.
A study conducted in Turkey by Sigirtmac in 2016 highlights this connection. The research focused on children aged six to seven who received chess training over a six-month period. The results showed that these children scored significantly higher on creativity tests compared to their peers. The tests measured how good they were at thinking up different solutions to problems, and found that chess players were better at this.
Another interesting aspect of chess is how it engages both sides of the brain. While the left side analyses patterns and calculates risks, the right side handles creativity and big-picture thinking. A study by neuroscientist Dr. Robert Ferguson in the early 2000s revealed that regular chess players displayed increased activity in both hemispheres during games. This balanced brain activity improves not only logical reasoning but also creative problem-solving.
So chess encourages children to see challenges not as barriers, but as opportunities to experiment.
Are there academic benefits of playing chess for kids?
A lot of parents worry about how their children are performing academically because they want to give them the best chance for a bright future. The good news is that chess is one of those activities that can make a real difference. While it may seem like just a game, chess has been shown to improve skills that are directly linked to academic success.
One of the most compelling studies on this topic was conducted in Italy by Dr. Giovanni Sala and Dr. Fernand Gobet in 2016. They reviewed 24 studies involving more than 3,000 children to assess whether playing chess had a measurable impact on academic performance. Their findings revealed that children who played chess consistently demonstrated improvements in mathematics and reading comprehension. The researchers said this was because chess helps you think in a logical way, solve problems and spot patterns. These are all really important skills in lots of different school subjects.
Chess has been shown to improve more than just cognitive skills. It can also help children to be more disciplined and focused, which are very important for their academic success. A study in 2016 by Grau-Pérez and Moreira found that children who played chess got much better at working memory, attention, and decision-making. Without these foundational skills, it is difficult for kids to stay organised, manage their time, and complete school assignments.
As you can see, the link between chess and academics is clear. It’s not just a fun hobby — it’s a tool that can make their life easier and more enjoyable.
How do you introduce chess to your child?
If you have had any doubts about the benefits of chess, we hope this article has put them to rest. In case you’re now keen to get your child started, there are two options, depending on whether you know how to play the game yourself.
For parents who already have some experience with chess, we recommend starting with casual games at home. Let your child explore the basics without focusing too much on winning or losing, and don’t put any pressure. Consider using beginner-friendly tools, like mini chess puzzles or interactive chess apps, to make learning enjoyable. Chesskid.com is a great app to start with.
But as your child gets more interested and wants to get better, they'll eventually need a plan to help them learn more. This is where working with a chess coach becomes reasonable. If this sounds like the next step for your child, we can help. We offer online chess coaching for kids from the age of five.
If you’re new to chess, it’s best to start with a coach. They’ll teach the basics in a way that’s easy for children to understand. Remember, you don't have to look for a Grandmaster. Finding a coach with exceptional teaching skills matters far more than finding the world's best chess player. We wish you the best of luck with your child's chess journey and if we can be of assistance just get in touch.
If you would like to book a taster for your child, we offer 30 minute intro sessions.
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