Chess is taught and learnt from various perpectives. Most often it is enough to learn about the game itself and broaden the horizons and game playing skills of the student.
At Chess for Schools we add an additional dimension to lessons and clubs: thinking skills!
Our tutors help to enable children to widen and enhance their thinking skills and problem solving. We believe (and there is strong evidence to reinforce this) that chess may be used as a tool to facilitate improved concentration, planning, strategy, reasoning, decision making and logic.
There is a natural connection between mathematics and chess and many other games of skill such as Shogi, Go, Bridge etc. If your child shows strength in mathematics then it is probable that they would find chess to be challenging and of interest.
We will introduce children to draughts and other games played on a chess board. All of this reinforces the geometry of the chess board and the relationship between the squares and the pieces.
We have found that some children with some degree of Asperger’s Syndrome may derive great enjoyment and benefit from chess. They are able to find a pursuit that give their full attention. For some chess is a world that they can enter and is very logical with concrete rules. Children with Aspergers like rules and logic. Indeed chess may also help those with ADHD. However, these comments should be taken as based on our experiences and nothing else.