Special Needs Children

It is an important goal of mine to be able to help children with special needs. When teaching chess in schools I have found it very rewarding to discover that several of my best students, both in terms of chess skill and behaviour, had been considered 'problem children'. On other occasions I had discovered that chess was calming down certain kids in the class, as well as building their confidence.

Furthermore, one of my private pupils and two of my chess colleagues that have or have had 'special needs' have achieved resounding success in chess and academia. Their success includes several victories against International Chess Masters.

During 2009 I will be meeting with a number of children's organisations within the UK with the aim to develop chess programs and classes. If you are an interested parent or represent a children's organisation please feel free to make contact if you wish to discuss possible collaboration or enrol your child in a class.

There are three themes that stand out for me, whereby chess acts as a vehicle to help children with special needs:

Managing Fear through Mastery

There is a theory that across the autistic spectrum there lies, at the heart of the problem, a strong sense of fear within the child. The world feels unsafe for the child and he or she withdraws and shuts down in order to protect him/herself. While this may be an oversimplification of a complex issue, from my experience this analysis holds true.

Through chess the autistic child can explore a world that has concrete, consistent rules where he can interact with other children in a way that feels safe. This sense of mastery over his environment breeds security and empowerment – wonderful gifts to a child that may perceive the world to be whirling with dangerous activity that he can not control. And imagine the feeling when he wins!

Discipline through Focus

It is often said that children with behavioural problems, especially 'hyperactivity' in one form or another, are simply bored. Several times I have been surprised to hear one of my model students was considered a 'problem child' in his other classes. What is chess offering these children that their usual studies might not?

Certainly there is the element of competition and the opportunity to be creative. However, the key factor is that chess is very complicated! The possibilities are endless—there are so many stratagems to consider and counterattacks to prevent—the child is drawn in and his attention is captured. The child then learns to focus at the task at hand and behaviour naturally improves.

The Success Habit

Most top sportsmen started young – they realised they were good at what they did and the thrill from winning is what prompted them to keep at it, do the training, play the next tournament and win again.

Pretty quickly a positive cycle is in place. As confidence grows one also becomes mentally strong and thus an even more powerful competitor.

As discussed in 'A Winning Character' this process develops a whole series of qualities and skills which can be transferred to the child's studies, and indeed all walks of life. For special needs children that find success in the chess world the rewards for their confidence and character are great!