Research notes, what studies say about chess and young children

The research on chess and children is mixed. A 2016 review of 24 studies found a small to moderate positive effect on maths and reading, but the same researchers warned that most studies were weakly designed. A large school trial in England found no effect on test results. So chess is a good activity in its own right, not a proven way to raise grades.

The main studies

• The 2016 meta-analysis. Giovanni Sala and Fernand Gobet pooled 24 studies with about 5,200 children. They found a moderate overall effect (g = 0.34), a little stronger for maths than for reading, and larger effects with longer instruction. They also noted that no study had an ideal design, with both a do-nothing and an active control group. Read the paper.
• The follow-up review. In 2017 Sala, Foley and Gobet looked again and argued that most chess studies lacked an active control group, so their positive results may not come from chess itself. Read the review.
• The English school trial. The Education Endowment Foundation tested chess classes in 100 primary schools with 4,009 pupils. It found no evidence the programme raised Key Stage 2 results, although schools liked it. See the trial.

What this means for parents

• Chess will not, on present evidence, reliably raise school grades.
• Children who enjoy it get regular practice in focus, planning, rules and handling a loss.
• The value is in the play and the time together, not in a promised result.

How we talk about Jupo World

That is why we never claim Jupo World makes children smarter or raises grades. We say what it does: it gives children aged 4 to 10 enjoyable practice in skills like memory and self-control, through games built on the Chess Palace method, and shows parents what was practised.

Questions parents ask

So is chess good for children?

It is a rich game that many children love, with clear rules and lots to think about. The research does not support big claims about grades.

Why do schools teach chess then?

Teachers value it for focus, turn-taking and confidence, and children enjoy it. Those are good reasons on their own.