If kids are building their brains from the ground up, how does chess fit into the design?
Scientists have studied chess instruction and its effect on cognitive development for a long time. While there isn’t an official consensus, many studies show that regular chess instruction of about an hour a week is convincingly linked to modest gains in cognitive measures, especially in math and overall reasoning/logic. This is because the neural pathways chess strengthens (memory, focus, pattern recognition) are the same ones these tasks use.
While summer break should have a good balance of fun and unstructured time, planning some activities can give parents a break or provide childcare for the younger set. There are a lot of options out there, from horse camp to weeks of art and theatre to sports. Chess is a standout option for several reasons, read on to discover them all!
Chess clubs can be focused on children or adults, or open to all ages. They can be informal gatherings for casual play, or highly organized meetings with regularly-scheduled sanctioned tournaments. Metropolitan areas may have many options to choose from, and technology has opened up access to online clubs for everyone. No matter what your chess goals are, there’s a club out there for you.
