Kids getting it off their chess
Elisabeth Tarica
October 22, 2007
It may have seemed that they were just playing a game, but the 400 students in the 2007 Chess Kids National Interschool Chess Championships were also learning important educational skills.
Chess helps to develop problem-solving, thinking, memory, social and visual spatial skills. Using chess as an educational tool is gaining popularity, with many schools introducing it as part of their maths or science curriculum.
Organiser and founder of Chess Kids, David Cordover, says chess programs were first introduced in schools about 10 years ago. Competition numbers rise by about 30 per cent a year.
“People are starting to become more aware of the benefits it does provide and there is a cluster of schools near Castlemaine that won a numeracy award recently for the work they are doing on chess,” he says.
“There is a very high level of engagement with kids when they are playing chess and that’s something that perhaps doesn’t happen with the traditional classroom activity. Then there is the self-esteem and confidence that’s built when six-year-old kids are able to beat adults comfortably.”
Mr Cordover says students from 64 schools took part in the state final of the championships at Parade College in Bundoora. With 250 chess tables, it was the largest gathering of chess players in one room in Victoria.
Here is the full story.
Well done castlemaine.