Chess Helps Concentration
I was fortunate to have come across Laura Sherman on Twitter (@YourChessCoach) about a month ago. She asked if anyone in my family played chess, and I answered, "Yes, my 16 year old son does." After a brief conversation I told her how great chess was for my son, who has Asperger's and ADHD. I've notice a positive change in his ability to concentrate and sit still. The game has also helped him learn to interact with others, something that is difficult for someone with Asperger's. In fact, after talking to Laura my son and I have started playing chess together. He even had the patience to teach me. Believe me ... that takes a LOT of patience!
Laura wrote this wonderful article on the importance and significance of chess for children with behavioral challenges. I completely relate, being the mother to a child with behavioral issues. Laura is a talented chess coach and has tons of great information on her website www.yourchesscoach.com. You can also find her on Twitter at @YourChessCoach.
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Chess Helps Concentration
By Laura Sherman
Being a chess coach allows me a chance to talk to many parents around the world about how chess affects their children. I hear amazing stories from parents of children with behavioral challenges. Chess helps their kids to concentrate!
I witnessed an amazing success with one of our young students. When I started with him in one of our group classes I wasn’t sure how I would cope. He could not sit in his seat for more than a minute. He would literally lie across his chair and drape his body across the table or just get up and disrupt the class.
Working with him in the group setting wasn’t working out. He was fast getting far behind the rest of his classmates. One day I took him aside, asking my husband to run the rest of the class and I worked with him one on one.
I had to continually direct his attention to the board and what I was teaching him. His attention would wander and I would firmly bring it back. By the end of that class period I saw incredible improvement. He had aptitude for the game! I was surprised to discover that he understood more than I had realized. He was actually very bright and able.
I told him that I saw this, that he was good. I let him know that I was impressed and that I expected him to learn and pay attention in class, that he could get chess and excel at it.
It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but after that class I knew that he could do it and that made a big difference. If he acted up I would just remind him that I knew he was good at chess and then I’d get him to refocus his attention on the board. He improved rapidly and soon after he no longer disrupted the class. Plus I could tell that he really enjoyed the classes.
I am proud to say that he sat through a tournament of ours lasting over an hour. He was very interested in each game and enjoyed himself a lot. I didn’t have to ask him to sit back in his seat once.
Chess requires a lot of imagination and creativity. The pieces only become animated when the player moves them. There is something captivating about the game, something the draws people in and settles them down. Plus it puts the child in the driver’s seat. They are in control of those 16 pieces and 64 squares.
Parents with children with autism or Asperger’s have told me that chess made a huge difference for their children. The pride and satisfaction these children achieved were very meaningful. They could excel in chess and earn the respect of everyone around them. What an accomplishment!
Laura Sherman founded Your Chess Coach (www.YourChessCoach.com) with her husband, Dan Sherman. Together they teach children to play chess through various schools in Pinellas County, Florida, as well as privately in students’ homes and online.
Laura wrote this wonderful article on the importance and significance of chess for children with behavioral challenges. I completely relate, being the mother to a child with behavioral issues. Laura is a talented chess coach and has tons of great information on her website www.yourchesscoach.com. You can also find her on Twitter at @YourChessCoach.
_________________________________________________________________________
Chess Helps Concentration
By Laura Sherman
Being a chess coach allows me a chance to talk to many parents around the world about how chess affects their children. I hear amazing stories from parents of children with behavioral challenges. Chess helps their kids to concentrate!
I witnessed an amazing success with one of our young students. When I started with him in one of our group classes I wasn’t sure how I would cope. He could not sit in his seat for more than a minute. He would literally lie across his chair and drape his body across the table or just get up and disrupt the class.
Working with him in the group setting wasn’t working out. He was fast getting far behind the rest of his classmates. One day I took him aside, asking my husband to run the rest of the class and I worked with him one on one.
I had to continually direct his attention to the board and what I was teaching him. His attention would wander and I would firmly bring it back. By the end of that class period I saw incredible improvement. He had aptitude for the game! I was surprised to discover that he understood more than I had realized. He was actually very bright and able.
I told him that I saw this, that he was good. I let him know that I was impressed and that I expected him to learn and pay attention in class, that he could get chess and excel at it.
It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but after that class I knew that he could do it and that made a big difference. If he acted up I would just remind him that I knew he was good at chess and then I’d get him to refocus his attention on the board. He improved rapidly and soon after he no longer disrupted the class. Plus I could tell that he really enjoyed the classes.
I am proud to say that he sat through a tournament of ours lasting over an hour. He was very interested in each game and enjoyed himself a lot. I didn’t have to ask him to sit back in his seat once.
Chess requires a lot of imagination and creativity. The pieces only become animated when the player moves them. There is something captivating about the game, something the draws people in and settles them down. Plus it puts the child in the driver’s seat. They are in control of those 16 pieces and 64 squares.
Parents with children with autism or Asperger’s have told me that chess made a huge difference for their children. The pride and satisfaction these children achieved were very meaningful. They could excel in chess and earn the respect of everyone around them. What an accomplishment!
Laura Sherman founded Your Chess Coach (www.YourChessCoach.com) with her husband, Dan Sherman. Together they teach children to play chess through various schools in Pinellas County, Florida, as well as privately in students’ homes and online.
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