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Strategic
Chess helps young players develop thinking and social skills
Journal photo by David Rolfe
April Johnson watches her players practice at Paisley Middle School. They are Carmon Doherty (from left), Ladarius Barren (partly hidden) and Mark March.
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Published: December 7, 2008
Christian Harris used to keep his chess trophies in his bedroom. One day, it occurred to him that they weren't displayed to best advantage.
"He let me know that nobody could see them in there," his father, David, said.
So his father moved them to the mantel in the living room. Now everyone who comes into the house can see them.
Christian, 9, is a fourth-grader at Mineral Springs Elementary School. He has enjoyed playing chess ever since teacher April Johnson showed him the basics.
"It helps my patience," he said.
Plus, it's fun.
Christian was one of six students whom Johnson brought to a Winston-Salem Scholastic Chess Association tournament yesterday in the gym at Paisley Middle School.
"Chess is really good for a child," said Johnson, who is the enrichment specialist at Mineral Springs.
It not only helps children develop their visual-spatial thinking skills, she said, but also helps them enhance their social skills. As each of her players finished a game, she checked to make sure that he had shaken hands with his opponent.
Altogether, 52 young people from second grade through high school played. Although most were local, some came from surrounding counties and some from as far away as Charlotte. Since the association sponsored its first tournament seven years ago, more than 500 young people have played in 28 tournaments, said Keith Kolischak, the association's president.
Over multiple tournaments, many players have gotten to know each other. As Logan Davis, a 12-year-old sixth-grader at North Davie Middle School, waited with his mother, Krista, for the tournament to begin, Edward Gravley, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Ward Elementary School, came up to say hello.
Logan whipped out a board, and they played a friendly game to get the synapses firing before competition began. Once the tournament started, parents stayed outside the gym to minimize distractions.
"It's not like soccer where you can watch them play," said Martin Chandler, whose 10-year-old son, Cameron, was playing.
Technology has made waiting easier.
People came armed with computers, video-game players and portable DVD players as well as those time-honored waiting aids -- playing cards, magazines and the newspaper, which Kay Whitley perused while grandson Darnell Whitley, a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Brunson, played.
It was Darnell's first tournament. He was nervous but not so nervous that he lost any sleep the night before.
"I like the strategy, winning and having fun while playing," Darnell said.
■ Kim Underwood can be reached at 727-7389 or at kunderwood@wsjournal.com.
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