Every great chess master starts with a good teacher. Take a look at Grandmaster Mikhail Botvinnik, the father of the Soviet chess school. He opened his school in 1963, fostering future world champions Karpov, Kasparov, and Kramnik. You, too, can provide your child with the best chess trainers in modern times.
How to find the most influential chess trainer for your kids?
Teachers will always play a crucial role in a child’s development, whether through providing math lessons or teaching music. The same goes for chess coaches; you must find a mentor who can encourage your kids throughout their journey, exhibiting the following qualities:
- Vast experience
Your child’s first steps into the world of chess don’t have to be professional. For example, if you know how to play the game, perhaps you could be the one to introduce them to the setup and rules.
However, working with a professional chess trainer will surely yield more favorable results. Luckily, many online mentors are renowned masters with years of experience in competitive chess and several medals to their names.
- Excellent coaching skills
Medals and titles could only do so much if the trainer has no idea how to teach. In fact, they shouldn’t act as professional players but as mentors, taking the time to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your child.
It would be even better if your chosen trainer had experience in dealing with children of different backgrounds. For instance, John Marble, a renowned chess coach, specializes in teaching kids with ADHD and developmental disabilities.
- Effective teaching styles
Chess is a game of strategy and logic. These concepts may seem foreign to a child; however, everyone is born with the innate ability to think critically. Therefore, it’s a chess trainer’s job to hone these skills and maximize your loved one’s potential. The coach must employ the appropriate teaching style according to each student’s needs, whether they learn more effectively by the book or through more creative methods.
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