Building Focus and Social Skills Through Chess in Childhood – A Growing Practice in Phnom Penh

Chess is gaining popularity in Phnom Penh as more parents and educators discover its benefits beyond strategy. For children with ADHD, autism, or social communication challenges, chess offers an engaging way to build focus, patience, critical thinking, and even social-emotional skills. Whether used at home, in therapy, or in classrooms, chess can be a powerful developmental tool.

How Chess Supports Cognitive and Emotional Growth
Chess is a structured activity that rewards attention, planning, and impulse control—skills often challenging for children with ADHD or executive functioning difficulties. It encourages children to:

• Think ahead before acting

• Stay attentive for longer periods

• Use logic and reasoning

• Cope with wins and losses gracefully

These skills transfer to classroom behavior, homework habits, and social interactions, making chess more than a recreational game—it’s brain training in disguise.

Social Skills Through Structured Play
Children who struggle with social communication can benefit greatly from the predictable and turn-based nature of chess. It teaches:

• Taking turns and waiting patiently

• Respecting rules and opponents

• Learning from feedback

• Managing emotions after losing a piece or game

For children with autism spectrum disorder, who may find open-ended play overwhelming, the structure of chess provides a safe space to interact and practice peer engagement.

Integrating Chess Into Therapy and Home Routines
Therapists often recommend chess as a supplemental activity to develop cognitive and behavioral regulation skills. Parents can integrate it into family routines or one-on-one time to strengthen focus and reduce screen time. Use guided prompts like:

• “What will happen if you move this piece?”

• “Let’s pause and think about the next move.”

• “It’s okay to lose; let’s talk about what we learned.”

Even 15–20 minutes a day can lead to improvements in attention and emotional control over time.

Support for Children in Phnom Penh at OrbRom Center
At OrbRom Center, we recognize that structured activities like chess can enhance the therapeutic experience. Our special needs intervention program in Phnom Penh incorporates games, routines, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to support children in building self-regulation, communication, and focus. With individualized plans and a strengths-based approach, we help children turn challenges into victories—on and off the board.