The success of Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation has awakened many to the existential crisis facing young people today.
My view for several decades now has been that many young children are over-scheduled and over-stressed by a relentless diet of extracurricular activities, chosen by parents rather than children, for their perceived extrinsic rather than intrinsic benefits. They would, in many cases, be better off with more free play, more time with their families and more time outdoors.
At the same time, we’re witnessing a rise in loneliness, identity problems and mental health disorders amongst older children.
One way of challenging this is to encourage secondary school age children to step away from their screens, get out of the house and join hobby clubs.
In recent years, many young people have taken up chess online, attracted by content creators and streamers such as Levy Rozman and Anna Cramling. Other young people will have experienced chess at primary school and would like to take the game further. I believe there’s now a demand for a club which, taking a holistic approach to chess, will bring young people together, help them make new friends and prepare them, if they want to take that route, for adult competitive chess.
- A club designed mainly for older children who see chess as a serious, adult game, although younger children able to take a mature approach will also be welcome.
- A club designed for social purposes: to help young people make friends with others who share their interests, to give them a sense of belonging, to help them find their tribe.
- A club which will not put children into potentially stressful environments until they’re ready: providing social rather than competitive chess.
- A club run by volunteers, providing mentoring and informal instruction.
- A club chosen by the young people themselves, not by their parents.
- A club that celebrates the intrinsic beauty, profundity and excitement of chess.
- A club which is both inclusive and accessible in every respect.
If you’re interested in the Chess Minds concept please look around and get in touch.
CHESS MINDS 