Special Needs

We believe that strategy games such as chess can be enormously beneficial for children with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, and encourage parents and teachers to consider Spectrum Minichess and Chess Clubs for their children.

Many children are now diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Richard writes here about minichess and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Here‘s Chris Bonnello (autistic advocate, novelist and occasional chess teacher) on chess and autistic children.

Here‘s celebrated Dutch chess teacher and author Karel van Delft on chess and autism (from his book Developing Chess Talent).

Chess can also be great for some children diagnosed with ADHD.

Richard writes here about minichess and ADHD.

Here‘s information about a Spanish chess/ADHD project.

It’s believed that 5-6% of primary school age children have Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder. Children with problems of this nature may struggle with physical sports, but strategy games such as chess will give them the opportunity for competitive play.

There are many ways in which strategy games can be helpful for children with developmental learning disorders – and children with conditions such as dyslexia sometimes excel at chess.