Teaching young children chess, some remarksKarel van Delft, www.chesstalent.com www.schaakacademieapeldoorn.nl

London Chess Conference 2015

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBO49aUxvCY

Questions

From which age children can learn chess?

How to teach them?

Scientific research and experiences

Not much scientific research available Quality research often questionable:Gobet, Campitelli: ‘Educational benefits of chess instruction: A critical review’.

Possibilities to learn from best practices (observation, experiences)

Transfer

Chess is presumed to have a lot of benefits Should be result of transfer of skills to other domains Scientists: only transfer if chess skills are also part of other domain

Cognitive development

Chess demands some stage of cognitive development

Information processing: memory, perception, analyzing, reasoning, visualisation, problem solving, decision making, planning

Taking perspective of opponent Self-management: concentration, patience, perseverance, self-control

Prodigies and pattern recognition

Excellent performances young children on mathematics, chess, music

In common: pattern recognition and adults who coach/teach

Polgar: no nature, geniuses are nurtured

Start when interested

Start when kid shows interest Kids have inborn curiosity, they want to discover Motivated to learn if they find interest and can create something

Maria Montessori: Help me to do it my self Vygotsky: Zone of proximal development Bilalic: Intelligence not very important, motivation and training are

In The Netherlands only a few dozens of kids of six years old member of national federation

Playing

Playing is an essential way of learning

Functions: learning, problem solving, social skills, self-management

Learn from biographies Waitzkin and Polgar Stimulate at early age Stimulating environment High but attainable goals, success experiences Learning by playing Stimulate selfconsciousness Lot of variations in excercises Empathy teachers Kids pulling their own conclusions Trust intrinsic motivation of kids

Didactics

Didactics is the art of teachingLong list of aspects: learning goals, age, expectation level, feedback, empathy, group processes, role models, fantasy, frequency lessons, language etc, etc, etc.

Methods

Chess board with coloured pieces Movies Mini games Play together and tell a story App ‘Alterman Chess’ DVD Fritz and Chesster www.raindropchess.com www.sparkchess.com www.chessheroes.uk/index.html

Sources

Book ‘Schoolschaken’ (School Chess), sources (mainly English), chapter 2www.schaaktalent.nl/documenten/Links%20en%20literatuurverwijzingen%20boek%20Schoolschaken.pdf