Chess is one of the most brain intensive game that is not easy to master. This game has been a part of our Indian tradition centuries and even today, a lot of parents want their kids to learn, enjoy master the game. According to a child psychologist, playing chess from an early age helps in mental development.
It also enhances imagination, concentration, problem-solving ability, planning and decision making. Though academic performances play a huge role in a child’s mental development, curricular activities like chess increase the ability to cope with certain challenges in life.
When to Begin Leaning Chess?
If you want your child to be an expert in the game of chess, the right age for your child to in chess coaching is when they are emotionally and intellectually ready. However, it is important to understand that chess is not an easy game to master. It is possible your child might feel discouraged if proper care is not given during coaching.
At the age of 6 or 7, the child can start grasping all aspects of the game. To keep your child motivated, it is the right time to invest in enhancing their skills. At the age of 5-10, kids grasping power is quite strong. They easily pick up the tips and tricks of the game just by observing other people play.
Another way of learning chess is by enrolling your KaabilKids (talented kids) in chess classes. In a formal environment, kids learn better. A competitive environment is ideal for learning a game. Once, the game is over, the teacher can point out the mistakes and provide their feedback so that they can accelerate the learning process.
How do Coaches help with leaning?
Learning with professional coaches help the children to stay motivated. Many schools pick the best students for the tournament. Playing chess on a tournament level promoted the passion for chess and keeps them motivated, which helps in improving their overall game.
But before enrolling your child in a coaching center, make sure that the coach has a minimum experience of 10 years and has a player level of 2000. This way they can communicate with kids much easier and even become a role, model. A coach can easily teach them new techniques to win a game, also the help them by improving their thinking process during the various stages of the game.
Apart from enrolling them in coaching, it is necessary to purchase practice material for them so that they can practice and study by themselves. Practical and theoretical knowledge together can help the child learn faster. Buy a book depending on the current level of your child’s learning. For instance, if your child is at an early stage, a book describing the basic concepts of the game is perfect.
As the level increases, you can buy them advanced levels book. Also, make sure that the book has an image in it, kids learn much faster when their pictures describing the move or strategy. Coaches also help a kid in preparing mentally for a tournament so that they can play with the right spirit and learn how to handle the sport.
Is Your Child Ready to Participate in a Tournament?
When your kid is attending chess classes, they are bound to play in competitive tournaments, which helps them learn from their mistakes and do better in their next game. However, once your child has crossed the beginner’s level, it is the duty of the coach to ensure that they practice and attain a higher level so that they can participate in formal tournaments.
Also, they can rightly guide the kind and help them analyze their mistakes that they have made during the game.
Chess tournaments are an amazing way for kids to test their skills. But the child should be mentally and emotionally prepared to play in the tournament. Your kid might end up on the losing side of the game, but as a parent, it is your duty to encourage them and teach them how to handle the competition.
The main focus of playing chess should not be on winning, but to teach them new skills of reasoning and analysis. The purpose of sending your child to a tournament is to test their skills and in a competitive environment.
Conclusion
Regardless of your interest, as a parent, you should know whether your kid is interested in chess or not. Introducing them in an early stage usually helps in building interest. But if you see that your kid is not enjoying the game or making excuses, then you should think of enrolling them into a different activity. You should never force your kids to do something they are not interested in.
