What are the benefits of chess for children?

Why do children need to be taught to play chess and what does chess give children?

The game of kings, gymnastics for the mind, one of the most brilliant games of mankind ... All of us at least once in our lives faced with such statements. Without going deep into the history of chess it should be noted that originally it was positioned as an element of culture, an elite intellectual pastime. Further, since the XX century, the game became more accessible and in view of well-known already at that time benefits for development of the person, chess was intensively cultivated in many countries, especially in the USSR. As a result, along with the most reading country, the USSR became and the strongest chess. The game became very popular. Everyone knew our many champions and the strongest players of the world, followed the news in the world of chess. Many of our grandmothers and grandfathers, people of older generation, went through school clubs, sections at the Palaces of Pioneers, etc. in their time. As for the beautiful city of Odessa, it is worth mentioning that chess player Efim Geller was recognized as the best athlete of the XX century among Odessa residents.

In this 21st century there are a lot of opportunities for children to have fun. Endless sitting at the computer, maintenance of the image of their surroundings, social networks, etc. Teachers saw an alternative to all kinds of "star wars" in chess and established them as a school discipline. This has already happened in Sweden, Spain, Mexico and Armenia. Chess boom in the USA and Canada, and China. Capitalists do not throw money in the wind. As for Ukraine, it seems that the functionaries of the education sector have not yet fully understood the words of an outstanding teacher: "Chess is an excellent school of consistent, logical thinking. Playing chess disciplines thinking, cultivates concentration, and develops memory. Chess should enter the life of elementary school as one of the elements of mental culture" Vasily Sukhomlinsky, and so far chess has appeared only in private schools, the state does not have time and money for this - politicians have decided that independently thinking people are the incorrigible electorate.

Chess is a game in form, art in content, and science in terms of difficulty in mastering the game. (Tigran Petrosyan)

And yet, why would a child want chess? The child learns to think and reason logically, the development of memory and imagination, the analysis of constantly changing problems with limited time, independent decision-making - all this contributes to the development of leadership skills and hardens the character. In addition, chess is a great way to communicate with interesting children from other countries in various international competitions. Children who play chess always have good grades.

Chess is one of the forms of comprehensive education of children. Conclusions made by scientists and specialists at different times and in different countries are the same and show that chess is one of the new forms of comprehensive upbringing of children. Scientists and teachers from many countries have long come to the conclusion that without chess one cannot imagine the full development of mental abilities and memory in children.

P.S.

Back in 1798, Benjamin Franklin remarked very well: "Just as diamond cutting turns a diamond into a diamond, chess classes allow you to reveal your mental abilities".