There are boundless benefits associated with chess for children. "According to research, Test scores improved by 17.3% for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared with only 4.6% for children participating in other forms of enriched activities," states 4-time World Champion Susan Polgar in a recent interview. In approximately 30 nations across the globe, including Brazil, China, Venezuela, Italy, Israel, Russia and Greece, etc., chess is incorporated into the country's scholastic curriculum. Just as athletics are a part of the required agenda at schools in the United States, Chess has been that way in the European Nations abroad.

Countless researchers and studies have shown over the years that chess does indeed strengthen a child's mental clarity, fortitude, stability, and overall health. Many schools are now finding chess as an inexpensive but essential way of helping kids grow mentally. In this technologically driven world, chess helps aid in the synthesis and growth of certain areas in the brain and mind where many children can benefit as they grow older from the game.

Dr. Robert Furgeson, Jr., the Executive Director of the American Chess School has prepared a review of key research studies for the chess in education conference. This review contains many charts and graphs that give detailed explanations and results of numerous studies.

Steve Sawyer, The Oklahoma Scholastic Chess Charter President, compiled "Chess: A Learning Tool",which also gives insights into the benefits of chess on children.

Another interesting article was published in Time Magazine back in 2001 by Evan Levy about chess and learning. He dicusses chess in schools.

*Information taken from the Susan Polgar Website