Research has shown that children who learn chess at school regularly outperform their peers who do not do so. (You'll find references to this on our links page.) Children learn concentration, logical thought, planning, pattern recognition, self-discipline, taking responsibility for their own mistakes and much else from playing chess.
There are also enormous social benefits to be gained by playing chess: children who do well will benefit in terms of improved self-esteem, as well as having the chance to make friends who share their interest.
At chessKIDS academy we believe that a well run chess club is one of the most important extra-curricular activities a school can offer.
Many schools, although they would like to run a club, are unable to do so due to a lack of a knowledgeable teacher or parent. Some schools employ a professional chess teacher, but they don't come cheap, and in many areas they are not available.
But now, ANY school can run a chess club by harnessing the power of the internet to provide instruction for their children.
chessKIDS academy's Scholastic Chess Package is specially designed to provide YOUR school with everything it needs to run a successful chess club.
CLICK HERE to download all the information and stationery you will need to get a chess club going in your school.
All you need is some kids who want to play chess, some chess equipment (visit our CHESS SHOP to purchase it) and, most importantly, an enthusiastic parent or teacher to run the Club.
If your school has an interactive whiteboard it makes running your school chess club even easier.
If you visit our KIDS' ZONE you'll see everything we have available. On the Schools link you'll find nine classes, each of which corresponds to a ten-week term.
You can choose to run a three-year course if you have the resources, or just repeat a one-year beginners' course every year, encouraging children who want to take the game further to study at home or join a local children's chess club.
During your chess club at school you broadcast a lesson using a PC attached to a smartboard. The rest of the session will be devoted to playing.
Full instructions are available in the download pack.
If you want to make full use of the package you'll also need to install the diagram font (permission to download granted by ChessBase gmbh).
We have a quiz section with tactics and checkmate quizzes which will be updated with extra quizzes on a weekly basis.
We would suggest that children start with the Mate in 1 quizzes. When they are proficient at these, move onto the Tactics and Mate in 2 quizzes.
We will be adding many more lessons and other features to chessKIDS academy over the coming months. Keep on coming back to see what's new on the site.
If your school or club is using chessKIDS academy please add a link to your website to encourage your kids to use the site regularly. Click here to find out how.