Teaching Chess: Should My Child Play Chess?

, The Talent Myth
, Don’t worry about whether your child has chess skills or not. If a child has just a curiosity about chess, he can learn how to play the game. However, your child must study, practice and play chess to become a good player., ,

The Chess Coach,
There are a select few people who teach chess for a living. Most have their own style and school of chess wisdom. Coaches vary from school teachers to enthusiasts to players – amateurs and professionals alike. Basically, a chess coach has to have a love for the game. No matter what their skills may be, a coach can help a child learn to play.

Chess Cost,
The biggest expenditure when joining a chess club is your child’s time. The average cost for most chess clubs is about $40 per month. There is chess equipment (chess set and clock), supplies (books and magazines) and eventually the tournament competition fees, if your child is serious about staying with chess. Serious competitors will need to state (ACF) and national (USCF) chess organizations, which also have membership fees.

, Chess Club
, What will your child do in the chess club? They will learn about the history of chess, chess rules, chess pieces and how they move. Students can play in a chess tournament every month – all year long. Chess is played in many cities and towns in every state. Sometimes, you will have to travel to another city to play in a tournament. Most students travel to other cities to find new competition and build upon their chess triumphs., ,

Benefits of Chess
, In addition to learning to play a sport, chess offers many educational and social benefits, which include sportsmanship, socialization, math, reading, writing, pattern recognition, teamwork, planning, logical thinking, attention, focus, analysis, problem solving, friendship, confidence, time management and self-discipline. 

Chess Parents
, Parents make new friends and collaborate with one another, too. They bring their children to the tournaments and help run the concessions. Sometimes, they even chaperone each other’s children to the chess practices and/or tournaments. Also, parents will learn how to play the game better, too. They have to, to win some of the chess games at home.
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Caesar Lawrence is the Director and Chess Coach for Caesar Chess. They organize a chess tournament every month including the National Chess Day Scholastic which is played at Colonial Brookwood Village. The proceeds go to Children’s of Alabama. Email him at CaesarChess@yahoo.com or go to www.CaesarChess.com.
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