As a child journeys their way through child development, there are all kinds of lessons to be learned. This is normally a job for mom and dad to do, but sometimes they need a little help. Mom may look for resources to help them guide their children on the right path. They may use books and TV shows to teach them some valuable lessons, because they are presented in a more relatable way for children. Another effective way of teaching life lessons is through games, and chess is one of those games.

Chess is a game that parents may think is only for adults, or teenagers, but children can learn this game. According to Chess Kid, most children are able to pick up the basic rules and instructions for chess by the time they are 5 years old. Children are eager to learn and soak in a new skill, and if they have the interest in chess there are 9 life lessons that they can learn from this game.

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9 How One “Move” Affects Another

When it comes to chess, it is a game where you have to think multiple moves ahead. This translates to a life lesson very well, according to Kids Academy. When we do or say something in life, we should always be thinking about how that will be received. Is this a good “move” to be making right now and will it benefit me in the future? This is a skill that children will learn by playing chess.

8 No Overthinking

Overthinking is not something that aids us well in life. It often leads to worry and anxiety and this is something we need to teach our children. When playing chess, children can learn to avoid overthinking and they can also learn how to make important decisions when they are under pressure. When you take too much time to make a move in chess, you can make a mistake that never should have happened.

7 Power Through Tough Decisions

Life will be full of tough decisions, and while children should never have to make a tough decision, they can learn how to do that. Chess will help them learn how to make tough choices. They will have to weight the options that are available and come to a conclusion, and they also must be willing to commit to it.

6 Power Of Confidence

Confidence is something that we want our children to have. They can gain this through many means, and chess is one of them. When it comes to playing chess, they are responsible for their moves. As they progress in their experience playing the game, they will begin to trust their judgement and will start to believe in themselves.

5 Learning From A Bad Move

While a child is learning confidence from making good moves, they are also going to learn about making bad moves. These bad moves are just as important for learning. Mistakes happen in chess, moves are made that someone regrets, but this is an opportunity to think and reflect about what they did and how they could do it differently next time to get a different result.

4 Every Person Is Playing

Chess, like any game that involves more than one player, is a great opportunity for a child to learn about teamwork and what it takes to win. Chess is a game that is played by two people, but what one person does directly affects the other one, according to Sean Hampton Cole. This is a great opportunity for a child to learn that they have to consider everyone around them when making decisions and forces them to think about someone other than themselves.

3 Have Back Up Plans

One of the greatest life lessons to learn is to always have a plan A, B and a plan C in life. In chess, you have to think a few steps ahead, and since the game is dependant on what moves your opponent makes, it forces you to think of alternate strategies that may help you in future moves.

2 Sometimes You Have To Sacrifice

This is a big lesson that chess teaches children, and it will be one that will serve them well as they get older. In chess, in order to win you sometimes have to sacrifice some of your pieces. This is true in life. If your child wants to grow up and be a doctor, there may need to be some sacrifices that are made. They may need to give up some “fun” in order to achieve their goals in life and chess normalizes this.

1 Grab Opportunities When They Come

Another great thing about chess is that it teaches children to grab the opportunities when they come. In chess, when you see an open move, you make it, according to Inde Online. You don’t think twice about it. This is a lesson that children need to learn, because in chess, if you don’t take that opportunity when it is available then it may be gone by the time your turn comes back around. The same is true in life, when your chance comes up, take it and run.

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Sources: Sean Hampton Cole, Chess Kid, IndeOnline, KidsAcademy