In today’s culture, many young children are signed up for multiple activities – football, coding, dance, chess, and more. The intention is good: to give them opportunities, to help them grow. But for younger children especially, this busy rhythm can be too much.
Children need time to rest, play freely, and simply be. More unstructured time and less structured time, more time outdoors and less time indoors. When their days are packed, they may feel tired, anxious, or disconnected. They lose the chance to explore their own interests at their own pace – and to develop the emotional and creative skills that come from unstructured time.
Chess, as an indoor, structured (in some clubs very highly structured) activity is, unless children are really enthusiastic, not necessarily beneficial for children’s overall development.
Chess Minds Perspective
Chess is a beautiful game – but must be introduced with care, pacing, and regard to children’s cognitive and emotional profile. For some children, adding chess to an already busy schedule may feel like one demand too many. For others, it may become a quiet ritual – a space to breathe, reflect, and grow, somewhere to make friends and develop a lifelong passion.
We encourage parents and educators to ask:
- Are my children rested and happy?
- Do they have time to play, imagine – and be bored?
- Are we choosing activities that they really enjoy – or just because they look good on their CV?
Thoughtful Resources
- Child Mind Institute – Finding the Balance
A gentle guide to managing extracurriculars and protecting emotional health. - The Conversation – Active or Overscheduled?
A balanced look at the risks of over-scheduling and the value of downtime. - Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne
A thoughtful book on reducing stress and restoring rhythm in children’s lives. - Under Pressure: Rescuing Our Children From The Culture Of Hyper-Parenting by Carl Honoré
A revealing portrait of how families are struggling to cope with the changing world of parenting and childhood
CHESS MINDS 