Chess Exchange believes that every child should have the opportunity to learn and play chess. We are a non-profit organization that puts chess boards into schools.
Playing chess teaches strategy, foresight, patience and a myriad of other skills useful in all walks of life. Here are just some of the areas that research has shown chess has an impact on:
Social-Emotional Learning and Problem Solving: In 2012, a study of 170 school children showed that those who played chess, compared to those who pursued other extracurriculars, enjoyed enhanced problem-solving skills, social and relationship-building skills and thinking skills. A 2019 study found that children who played chess were more able to consider the perspectives of their peers.
Memory: This 2015 study found that chess players had significantly better auditory memory than non-players. Similarly, this 2017 study found that chess players were much better at remembering visual information and patterns.
Creativity: Another 2017 study on school children in India found that after one year of chess training, creativity as scored on the Wallach-Kogan Creativity Test was improved.
Mental Health: Recently, counselors and psychotherapists have been using chess as a tool for developing rapport with their clients and improving therapy outcomes. Another study found that chess helps with panic attacks. Chess has also been used in the treatment of children with ADHD, who in a 2016 study, showed a significant decrease of symptoms including inattentiveness and over-activity.
Neurodegenerative Disease: Most amazingly, a group of researchers in 2019 identified playing chess as a protective factor against dementia.
So you see, chess is for everyone!