CHESS.

When we play a game of chess we learn that we need to concentrate

and focus on the game. This increases as we improve our skills, and play
longer games. Even at a basic level we play for about half an hour, we
find that we can block out everything else and focus solely on the board
and pieces. This is of course is invaluable during our school work where
concentration and focus are needed.

Now the improvement of reading skills might come as a bit of a surprise,

however when we learn to play, we regularly have to describe moves
using coordinates and when they reach a slightly higher level, we have
to write down our moves as well, both of these have a positive influence
on reading skills.

A game of chess means we need to employ a level of creativity in our

chess to solve problems encountered during the game. Creativity and
the ability to come up with moves which don’t seem to make sense to
the untrained eye, is something that is developed over time and
enhanced by chess. Similarly, critical and original thinking is important in
chess, using rationality to make decisions based upon possible scenarios
and outcomes. Once again, the synergy with education are there, we
need to be able to utilize various types of thinking in our school work.

Logical and sequential thinking are also encountered in chess and are
possibly the two most important aspects when calculating combinations.
Sequential thinking comes into practice when having to plan ahead and
working out sequences (which can get very complex when we consider
the increase in possibilities after each move), whilst logical thinking is
used when reacting to opponents’ plans, and working out our own at
each and every turn. Obviously these two attributes are both heavily
linked to maths where using logic is important and the ability to work
through problems sequentially becomes invaluable.

Decision making is the cornerstone of chess. Every move requires a

decision and the ability to choose the best option will determine how
you go in a game of chess. This mimics many aspects of school work, and
life in general where decision making is of the utmost importance. Chess
teaches us, students to narrow down the possibilities and think
rationally about the options in order to come to the best decision. As an
aside of decision making, consequences get brought into the equation.
For every bad move or poor decision in a game of chess there is a
consequence. This is similar to life where for each decision there is a
good or bad consequence, at an extreme level a bad decision might lead
to serious repercussions in the judicial system. At a normal level, a
consequence could be such as time out due to bad behaviour and so on.
Chess helps teach us that for each decision there will be a consequence,
and at least when playing chess, perhaps the worst consequence is that
we lose the game.
SCRABBLE.

We all know that the very benefit of scrabble is to improve spelling and
vocabulary. Scrabble, undoubtedly improves the word spelling not only
for kids but all of the people, player or not. While playing the game, we
can teach other people the basic rules of spelling a word. They will
definitely grasp the word and its spelling quickly. This game will teach us
new words and their meanings. While playing the game, if you put a new
word on the board, we would positively be inquisitive about knowing its
meaning and for sure will remember the word for the next time. This
way, we will increase our vocabulary too.

We can be creative. The brilliant game of scrabble allows us to use our

own creativity to make new words from the letters provided. While
playing the game, we are forced to creatively think of a fun and unique
word than the ones already on the board, in order to score good and
more than the other players. Some of us also show a smart move by
using our tiles to make new words in some specific area on the board to
attain more points.

Scrabble also can improves our mathematical skills. Along with

improving our English skills, the scrabble also teaches us basic math
skills. Since each tile of the letters used in the game carries specific
points, we would have to multiply those points with the value given to
the box. In short, we would have to apply addition and multiplication
methods after creating every word on the board. This calculation would
improve our mathematical skills.

Scrabble can also be an entertainment. Besides improving the

vocabulary and mathematical skills, scrabble also offers entertaining
time to the entire family. Spending a happy time, full of laughter and fun
and of course free of stress will help the kids as well as adults to build
stronger immune systems.
GAMES OF GENERALS.

Just like chess and scrabble games of the general teaches lessons about
getting along with others. In playing games of general logical and
sequential thinking are encountered and are possibly the two most
important aspects when calculating combinations. Sequential thinking
comes into practice when having to plan ahead and working out
sequences (which can get very complex when we consider the increase
in possibilities after each move), whilst logical thinking is used when
reacting to opponents’ plans, and working out our own at each and
every turn. Obviously these two attributes are both heavily linked to
maths where using logic is important and the ability to work through
problems sequentially becomes invaluable.

When we are taught to play games of the generals, we do not only learn
the moves but also patterns that are created. By remembering these
patterns we are sharpening our memories, and this helps us in all areas
of learning. Indeed such is the power of chess with regards to memory
that it has been proved to help ward off Alzheimer’s disease in the
elderly.