How to Keep Your Chess Kids Busy This Summer
Summer vacation is fast approaching, and with it comes the destruction of all your normal routines. Kids are home all day, or maybe you need to find activities that double as childcare. To make sure the kids do more than just watch YouTube shorts and eat all your snacks, try signing them up for fun chess activities that boost their brainpower!
Why Chess?
Every parent tries to strike just the right balance during the summer holiday of fun and growth opportunities. That can look different depending on what your child enjoys. While we want to keep their bodies active with outdoor activities and the pool, keeping those brain cells firing is just as important.
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Chess can help stave off the “summer slide” by strengthening important skills such as pattern recognition, focus, and short-term memory. Chess is more accessible than many activities for children for two reasons. One, it doesn’t require loads of expensive equipment and shoes to play. Two, chess is open to kids with physical or other challenges that make team sports or outdoor activities less possible or appealing. Adverse weather and heat waves won't affect chess camp like outdoor sports. Finally, chess is forever! People play chess throughout their lives, often coming back to it as adults. It’s a lifetime skill that lasts longer than those popsicle stick stars (which we also love, don’t get us wrong).
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Chess Camps
Day camps are the most popular summer chess offering for chess schools and scholastic clubs. Many chess schools offer multiple sessions during the summer. Scholastic chess clubs often have a one-week camp for club members. Day camp has many advantages. One, it immerses your child in chess, helping them grow their skills and excitement for the game. Two, they will be playing and socializing with the same group of kids during the week, providing an opportunity to make friends that last beyond camp. Three, a day camp can cover childcare needs for working parents of elementary-aged kids.
They may not work for everyone, however. Day camps can be pricey, so be sure you know the total cost before you sign up. Make sure you understand any “extras,” like lunch options, transportation, or equipment fees. If you are providing your own transportation, pay attention to drop-off and pick-up times, as there may be charges for missing them. Lastly, be sure the camp you pick is a good fit for your child’s interests and skills. A serious scholastic training camp may be too much for your beginner. Conversely, a "fun" camp may not interest a very experienced player.
Other Camp Options
Online Camp: Many areas do not have chess schools or clubs close enough for in-person day camps. An online chess camp may be the solution for you! These camps may include video lessons, one-on-one video coaching, daily exercises and puzzles, and games with other kids in the camp. A virtual camp may be a good option for you if you’ve got a reliable internet connection, computer, and a kid who enjoys virtual sessions. If your chess kid doesn’t like being on camera or speaking up, this option might not be the best fit.
Overnight Camp: If you have a committed chess kid, you may want to consider one of the overnight chess camps. These tend to be focused on serious competitors who want to advance their ratings and standing, rather than casual players or beginners. While it does provide the “sleep-away camp” environment, you may be required to travel with your child. One place to start your search is the US Chess Affiliate Chess Camps page. If you’re willing and able to invest in an overnight camp, your chess kid is in for a fantastic experience.
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Community Chess
If you don’t want to commit or don’t have access to a camp, there may be other community options. Libraries or parks and recreation districts often have chess programs that meet weekly.
Libraries may have a club that meets all year long, or special programs for the summer. All you will need is a library card to register! Make sure you pay attention to any age requirements. One wonderful thing about libraries is that almost everything is free or very low-cost. You can also hang around in the air conditioning with younger siblings or get some work done while you wait. Free wi-fi, comfy chairs, and books to suit everyone will make the library a favorite destination.
Parks and rec districts are great for all kinds of summer fun. If yours offers chess, you’re lucky! Be sure to sign up early, as these affordable classes fill quickly and collect a waitlist. They may have a chess camp or weekly class for kids. Make sure you look at the wide range of offerings while you’re there. Swim lessons are another staple of the parks and rec catalog you don’t want to miss.
One really fun thing to look for is chess outdoors. Many communities have a park or botanical garden with a giant chessboard. Stone chess tables are common at parks as well. You may need to bring your own pieces or improvise, but you can always do a simple game of fox and hounds (the pieces chase the king) with two or more kids. Moving your body as a piece really reinforces that chess knowledge, too!
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Chess at Home
Kids love playing chess against their parents, especially when they can win! If you’re not a chess player, it’s not hard to learn the basics of the game. If you are a skilled player, consider using a handicap to even the odds for your chess kid. Many experienced players will remove one or more of their own pieces before the start of the game to make it fairer.
Keep a chessboard set up in a convenient and central location. If all the siblings know how to play, don’t be surprised if a spontaneous game erupts. You can also play a “correspondence” game by moving pieces as you have time over several days. Sidewalk chalk on the cul-de-sac is another way to bring a chessboard outdoors.
Movies and books about famous chess kids are always a hit—just add popcorn! For the younger set, Queen of Katwe is an inspirational story of a young girl who learned to play chess and turned her life upside down. Your older kids will be fascinated by Searching for Bobby Fischer, the story of Josh Waitzkin, a chess prodigy whose life story continues to evolve. If your young chess kid prefers to read, grab a copy of “Tani's New Home” by Tanitoluwa Adewumi. This incredible story follows the author’s journey from refugee in Nigeria to a champion chess player in New York City.
Chess Away from Home
When you’re traveling, see if you can find chess landmarks in the cities you’re visiting. The World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis is an educational and entertaining stop. No trip to New York City would be complete for a chess kid without observing (or playing!) the chess hustlers in Washington Square Park. Historic chess clubs like the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco have regular nights where visitors are welcome. If you’re traveling further afield, Reykjavik, Iceland, has the highest concentration of grandmasters in the world.
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Chess Ideas for Travel
Summer travel means coming up with activities for the plane, train, or automobile. Chess is a good choice to keep the kids quietly entertained. There are several compact and easy-to-carry options.
- A Travel Chess Set: A magnetic travel chess set makes playing full games of chess convenient and portable. If you’re short on space, a checkbook-style board like the Checkbook Magnetic Travel Chess Set makes games portable while preserving your game in process.
- Puzzle Books: Chess puzzles are always a popular way to keep kids busy and learning. Puzzles are great for travel because they can be brought out as time permits. They’re easy to stow again when it’s time to get back on the move. “Parker's Chess Adventure” by Dave Schloss is a fun storybook/puzzle book with 100 puzzles and coloring pages at the beginning of each chapter for even more fun.
- Chess Apps: Most families travel with their devices now, even if they don’t allow much screen time. A chess app on a tablet or phone can be screen time you feel good about. ChessKid is one of the best options for safety and kid-friendly play. Since bot opponents can be played offline, it’s a good choice for travel.
Good Times Ahead
With this wide variety of summer chess options, you’re sure to find something to interest your chess kid. Whether you’re dropping them at a day camp, doing exercises together on a plane, or simply playing a game in the living room, it’s a smart and fun way to keep those brain cells active. Solve the puzzle of “bored” kids with a strategic infusion of chess!