Effects of Chess on Kids

You have probably heard that math makes kids smarter, but is that true? Today we will explore some studies conducted on kids and how it affected various things including math and literature scores, standardized testing scores, and memory/verbal reasoning.

First off, math and literature.

As shown by the chart above, kids that played chess, especially in groups tended to get higher scores in both math and literature classes.

Another example of increased scores in a correlation to chess was shown in this study:

The study took elementary kids in a school district in Texas. Then it took the scores of kids who participated in chess-related activities such as chess clubs and compared those scores to kids who did not participate in a chess club. The result was that kids who played in chess clubs performed TWICE as well as non-chess-playing kids in the math and reading assesment.

Finally we have one last study examining the effect of chess on memory and verbal reasoning.

As you may be able to tell by the chart, playing chess had a profound effect on the students in this study.

Overall, Chess has a positive impact on both kids and adults. It improves cognitive thinking and it shows. So what are you waiting for? Go play some chess!!!

Sources Listed Below:

https://www.realclearscience.com/quick_and_clear_science/2019/09/03/does_chess_make_kids_smarter_or_do_smart_kids_play_chess.html?fbclid=IwAR1B7y9qXqhJlCBYNwnNDXb2bJcxyDOeZ957UzYOTa72QvI3zx5RIWpGJSI

https://www.geocities.ws/chess_camp/study_3.pdf

https://www.geocities.ws/chess_camp/taas4.pdf

What if being good at math makes you competitive, which makes you want to play USCF rated tournaments? I started chess a few years ago because I was good at math and wanted to try it.

Great Question! This was actually part of one of studies that I looked at above. It talks about the chicken or egg scenario, if chess makes kids smart or if smart kids played chess. While the conclusion was that chess does make kids smarter, it can also be true that some people who are smart play chess. However, data is data, and I suggest you read the study for yourself so that you can come to your own opinion. The study wasn't so much that it makes kids smarter and thats why chess kids are so smart, but if it makes kids smarter.

Link to said study: https://www.realclearscience.com/quick_and_clear_science/2019/09/03/does_chess_make_kids_smarter_or_do_smart_kids_play_chess.html?fbclid=IwAR1B7y9qXqhJlCBYNwnNDXb2bJcxyDOeZ957UzYOTa72QvI3zx5RIWpGJSI