Code Name STEAM inspires our kids to get into chess. Maybe it will do the same to you (and yours if you have them).
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. creates a knife edge multi-player challenge for families with as much to commend it as Chess. Fighting talk I know, but this 3DS game made me reconsider how I see (and limit) video-games in the home.
While few have ambitions for their children to get really good at video-games, parents will often encourage progeny to develop Chess playing smarts. The ancient turn based strategy brings with it a sense of intelligence and culture with a payload of virtue broader life. Patience, cunning, sacrifice, compromise and forward planning are just a few of the perceived character building benefits.
Perhaps in years to come Call of Duty and Mario Kart will be seen in the same light, as aspirational mind and character developing pursuits rather than an entertaining waste of time. That not yet being the case I’ve been encouraging my boys to spend time playing Chess (alongside their video-game fun).
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