Why All Black Children Should Learn How to Play Chess

To elevate our black communities, we need to instil values that can support responsibility, unity, and peace. Chess is a game that instils these values. Teaching our black children how to play it, from a young age, is crucial. Research shows that from just playing chess, children adopt the best habits to help them not only win the game but improve all other aspects of life.

What chess could mean for a black child

Black children, as hard as it is to admit, very easily become broken by society. When you sit down with young black teens and listen to what they say, sometimes it is heartbreaking. They feel they have to grow up justifying their existence, they have been let down by the society they live in. And, surprisingly, not only in western countries but also in Africa.

To inspire a better future, we need to reassure them that they matter, and while we do so, teach them values to employ in life.
We can teach these through chess.

As parents fighting for equality for our black children in society, we know we have to start with them. That isn’t to say that they are the problem, that is to take the issue of an unequal society into our own hands.
Being proactive rather than reactive.

They also have to be in a position to understand equality, diversity, and respect. By teaching them chess, we introduce a new life, hobby, practice, and school of thought for them. 

Our children are growing up exposed to so much negative propaganda about their race; we need to inspire a different life for them through better values.
We need to guide them into taking charge of their lives.
We can do this by introducing different ways of conflict resolution.

Crucial lessons black children will learn from chess

When children play chess:
They develop logic skills
Their brain works overtime
They carefully consider their actions
They try to predict their opponent’s actions
They develop critical thinking

Life skills that chess teaches black children
Critical thinking
Patience
Focus
Respect
Continuous learning & development

Critical thinking

One of the main reasons all black children should learn how to play chess is becuase it teaches a necessary life skill. Critical thinking. When a black child learns how to think critically, make moves on the board, and plan a game-long strategy, they can employ the same virtues in real life.
Critical thinking is a vital part of life that only gets better with time, and a discipline needed for future black generations’ success.


Patience

Chess teaches patience in children.
When they sit at the table for hours, and their only concentration is the game and how to win it, they learn and practise a discipline they can easily extend to other aspects of life. Patience only improves with time when learnt at a young age and children who practise patience at a young age grow up to be happy, understanding, and thoughtful. The black community should seek to instil such values in our children to encourage a better community remiss of violence, abuse, and anger.


Focus

Chess improves focus.
Focus is a skill children learn the hard way, mostly through tough exams in schools. They discover they have to pay attention in class so they can pass their exams. However, when a child shows an interest in learning chess, they practise how to stay still and focus on the task at hand.
A child who can concentrate on chess can concentrate on school and life; focus is a recipe for success. We live in a competitive society, black children need the skills to match and compete with everybody else.

One of many factors of the capitalistic world we live in, survival of the fittest. Chess and what it brings with it, sets children apart from the rest; they possess various skills that those who don’t play the game lack. When children have healthy competitive skills, they tend to excel in anything they put their mind to. They are not easily swayed, nor do they give up too easily. Skills home-schooled and publicly-schooled children can benefit from alike.


Better use of their time

Chess is a useful hobby for black children as it isn’t something they ever complete or grow out of, they only improve with time. Many hobbies in which our children are engrossed don’t last them and some don’t benefit them in the slightest. Chess is an accommodative game played by people of all careers and backgrounds. Once children learn to play chess, they improve on their school work; research shows chess players are better readers, mathematicians, and overall learners. In a world of competitive video games and social media, chess is a better option when raising a calm, respectful, focused, and dedicated black generation.


Respect

Chess teaches respect. The first rule of chess is that players greet each other before the game and wish each other success. The game introduces the black child to healthy competition. Even when they are losing, chess teaches children to congratulate the opponent.


Continuous learning & development

Again, this isn’t a game you grow out of. Each game they lose they must learn where they went wrong so they can do better the next time. These are crucial skills for young children, that they see a learning opportunity instead of thinking of it as losing.


Conclusion

Chess is a great way to equip black children with skills and values that will have a positive impact on their lives as well as the development of a stable and innovative black community. In the world today, where black children are becoming more aware of issues affecting them and their community, chess is a pastime hobby that encourages healthy engagement among them, to prevent them from turning to misdeeds. 

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My 4.5 Year Old Has Just Started Learning To Play Chess!

According to many posts online, the best age to begin teaching your child to play chess is around 5-6. I am so glad I didn’t take any notice of that and instead playfully introduced the little ones to the game. My son became absolutely addicted – I look forward to sharing his progress with you all! All I am using is this cheap fold up chess board from Amazon (magnetic with storage – they know how children can be!) and a free app, ‘ChessKid‘.


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