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Chess or Coding – what do I teach my kid first?
Idea is to help them develop their thinking capabilities. I'm biased towards coding, since the things to imagine and think are endless, but am not completely sure about it. I can do both too in parallel, but would like them to focus only one thing right now, since they are young, under 7. Or any other game/activity?
- mmarq 5y agoIntroduce them to both and let them do what they like. Other games or exercises would work as well.
- gautamsomani 5y agoWhat they may like may not be the best for them, having said that let me add that I don't force things upon then for long, but may be for enough to help them build an effective thinking framework.
- literallyaduck 5y agoChess, Piano, Logic, then code.
- gautamsomani 5y agoWhy all these, and why in this order?
- literallyaduck 5y agohttps://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/benefits-of-chess/ https://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/benefi... https://www.forbes.com/2004/07/15/cx_0715health.html?sh=9728e903bd93 https://www.forbes.com/2004/07/15/cx_0715health.html?sh=9728... Planning ahead, self study, are learned by the first two, logic is a prerequisite to good code.
- yesenadam 5y agoHow about, what they enjoy doing? I mean, give them a taste of things and let them decide. "Talented" I think mostly is used to describe people who practised something every day for many years. You will only do that if you like/love/enjoy doing it. I started music lessons at 4 and still make music every day (age 50). Also I love chess and programming. ..How about music?
- gautamsomani 5y agoThe idea is not to just make them enjoy things, but also to help them develop their thinking pattern, and they may not take the best decision. Hence adult supervision may be needed here to have the best for them. I understand that it may not be fun, but the idea is to build a good foundation,a framework upon which other things can be built upon.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- f0e4c2f7 5y agoIt took me a couple decades to come around on the things my parents forced me to participate in when I was a kid. So to that end I'd say chess. It would be terrible to grow up hating programming.
- giantg2 5y ago"The idea is not to just make them enjoy things, but also to help them develop their thinking pattern, and they may not take the best decision." It sounds like the approach you will be taking will not involve fun. That's fine, but I think it needs to be acknowledged. Forcing them to study a subject will be work to them. The fun way is to let let them explore chess and programming naturally and build their knowledge out of a desire to increase their skill/pleasure in the task, but then "they may not take the best decision".
- muzani 5y agoIn terms of a foundation, at an early age, I'd say emotional and moral development is most vital. My kids are damn smart and I didn't have to do much about it. However, I had to spend a lot of effort teaching them to not be envious, not give up when things are tough, not to take insults too personally, to get boring stuff done first (like showering), and so on. If the stuff you have planned for them may not be fun, that makes emotional development all the more important.
- david927 5y agoThinking is a lot more than logic. Chess and coding are great but they're a tiny sliver on the spectrum of thought. Read to them. Childrens books when young but progress as they get older. Play with them. Let them dictate the game. Often it means just watching. Don't force your way; they'll tell you how to play. Be there. Be aware of them. Ask what they're thinking about. When they show an interest in something, explore it with them. Show them the pieces but let them make the discoveries. You probably know all of this but for others who may not know: Raising a smart child isn't just about exposing them to what we see as "clever" activities but really much more about being present.
- gautamsomani 5y agoNoted, and Thanks.
- max_ 5y agoDrawing.
- gautamsomani 5y agoHow drawing?
- max_ 5y agoDrawing teaches alot lot of skills. Like observations, of small details understanding of proportion, concentration/focus. Plus it's a useful skill. Especially a topic like nature study (drawing living things i.e leaves, plants, insects) and portraits. Plus everyone who can write can learn to draw. It's also less infested with the "not intelligent enough" myths. unlike maths & programming.
- Raminj95 5y agojiu jitsu is what i would recommend. Physical development at those ages have a correlated impact on intelligence later on. And martial arts teach emotional regulation which is also correlated with better grades in school.
- endisneigh 5y agoIs there any evidence teaching either will develop their thinking capabilities?
- gautamsomani 5y agoLearning Chess when I was 9 years old (1994) helped my way of thinking. It taught me to think of multiple possibilities, think afar, and to think of what could I do if things don't go the way I want them to go. Hence my belief in it.
- jimmyvalmer 5y agoChess, because it's best to experience the agony of defeat early and often. Under 7? Programming at that age is pointless.
- CRConrad 5y agoTrue. Losing, and learning to take it "like a man" (=like someone who can take it; goes for girls too) builds character. Chess, programming, football ("soccer")... Doesn't really matter what they do; the thing is how they do it.
- muzani 5y agoExpose them to as many things as possible. My first child knows every flag, every capital city, and taught me the politics of Kosovo, Yugoslavia, and Serbia. My second child memorized part of the times table at 3 years old just by watching her older sister do it. My third child is a genius with motor skills - he's learned to walk at 11 months, can "parrot" conversation/song, move furniture around, throw things with his full body mass. I think you have to find what clicks for them, what fascinates them. I bought my eldest kid a chess set, Rubik's cube, guided her to programming. They're very interested and want to be good at it but the fascination isn't there. It's like a chore. Also be wary that chess might have been your unique talent as a kid. You might not be world class, but you could also be in the 1% who actually liked chess as child. So just because you and other kids can do it, it doesn't mean every kid can.
- gautamsomani 5y agoPoint taken. Thanks.
- tmaly 5y agoshameless promotion, I have been making coding lessons for Scratch Jr for my daughter's school. I was teaching on a volunteer basis before covid, but everything went virtual and I thought something online might work. The age group is 5 to 8. See my profile for details if you are interested.
- softwaredoug 5y agoI’d recommend the book “Range” for you that shares a lot of research on the dangers of specializing too early, especially for kids. Both is perfectly acceptable IMO, lots of people can enjoy activities like chess without being a potential grandmaster. As a fellow parent, I’ll just say don't overthink it, let them lead with their interests.
- BOOSTERHIDROGEN 5y agoAny books references?
- sn9 5y agoTeach them how to communicate better. Check out this early 20th century educational experiment to see what I mean: https://www.inference.org.uk/sanjoy/benezet/three.html https://www.inference.org.uk/sanjoy/benezet/three.html