Playing Chess at the Library

The room is filled with kids sitting across from each other at rows of tables. The children — preschoolers through 5^th grade — are focusing on the board game in front of them. Parents and other adults stand or sit at the edges of the room; some are watching the kids, others are reading books or texting on their phones. The room is (mostly) quiet except for an occasional “thump” or “click” as a child moves a piece; sometimes a parent engages in a hushed conversation with a friend. The silence is also broken as players discuss how a particular piece moves or whether a particular move is “legal.” Two adults knowledgeable in chess are always on hand to answer questions; they walk among the players just waiting for a child to raise her or his hand and ask. The annual Children’s Chess Tournament has begun.For over fifteen years, the Allen County Public Library has hosted a children’s Chess Tournament at the end of the summer. Supported by research which shows a correlation between chess and enhanced concentration & reading skills, and financially supported by our Friends of the Library group, this “just-for-fun” all-day activity gives kids the opportunity to play chess in a tournament structure.  The day starts with a players’ meeting at which everyone is told the basic rules of the day:

• Everyone will play five rounds of chess.
• If they win a game, they get 1 point.
• If they lose a game, they get 0 points.
• If they draw or have a stalemate in their game, they each get ½ of a point.
• Kids are expected to show good sportsmanship throughout the day. That includes shaking hands before each game, being kind to your opponent whether you win or lose, having fun & making new friends.
• Trophies and/or participation certificates will be given to all players at the end of the day
• Healthy snacks will be available throughout the day and pizza will be available for lunch

Trophies are given at the end of the day to the kids in each grade with the best tournament play. But the focus of the play is not so much on the winning as it is on the process of playing chess, having fun, and learning together. When the kids report their scores at the scoring table, staff — some of whom know nothing about chess — have a ‘cheat sheet’ of questions to use to encourage kids to think beyond the elements of winning and losing.

We also focus extensively on the topic of “Good Sportsmanship” throughout the tournament. All players — and all grownups — are encouraged to “catch” players showing good sportsmanship and nominate them for a good sportsmanship trophy. At the end of the day, trophies are awarded in each grade level to the child who best exemplifies good sportsmanship.Everyone involved in this program gives it high marks — parents, kids, and staff.

Have you tried a chess program at your library? We’d love to hear about it!