Frequently Asked Questions - LearnChess Academy

What's the youngest age my child can start learning and playing chess?

The average age most children begin their chess journey is five or six years old. However, at LCA, we have successfully taught children as young as four. Effectively speaking, it depends on the child and parental support, but with our unique training systems, we guarantee we can coach almost anyone to play chess properly.

I think chess is too complicated for my child to learn as they can't concentrate for long periods of time. Do you think it's worth trying?

Absolutely! We have a very high success rate in coaching children who appear to be prone to more physical activity. In many cases, this is not true – they are simply being kids! Once children settle down and are challenged to think, many respond positively and find chess helps them to concentrate and hone new thinking skills.

Our child has learning difficulties and is provided with extra time to complete tasks at school. We are worried that chess would be too difficult for them to understand and that a group setting would prove to be too much for our child to cope with. Is this the case and should we stay away from this activity?

Definitely not. At LCA, we have taught many children how to play chess across the spectrum and are totally aware of their needs and how we can best help them gain the confidence and knowledge to stay focused. In fact, many of our students have advanced to become some of the best chess players we have trained.

Do you think chess helps with children's academic studies and results?

In a word, YES! We actually possess proof that children who regularly participate in our chess coaching classes attain consistently higher test and exam results from children who are not learning and playing chess on a weekly basis.

Can chess really help with the memory and train the brain to think differently?

It certainly can! There have been many tests which indicate chess activates the frontal areas of the brain, responsible for all thought processes. Most people who play some form of strategic sport develop better memories. This is especially true with chess, as you have to train your mind to recognise patterns and think ahead.

I don't want my child to become so absorbed with chess that they lose their instict for physical activity. Would this happen if they are playing chess every week?

No, nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, children are more ready for physical activity after they have been playing chess. Noticeably, children who then participate in physical activity use their brains to better effect, due to the strategic and tactical awareness gained by playing chess. In turn, this helps them to prioritise better routines between physical and mental activity.