Hey, parents! When it comes to educational toys, we know the possibilities are endless! How do you choose between the thousands of unique and creative options on the market?

We have the answer: Story Time Chess, of course!

An educational toy will bring your child hours of joyful entertainment and creative play. But did you know that the right toy can promote developmental skills such as problem-solving, reading, early math, creative thinking, cognitive skills, language, social skills, and emotional growth?

That’s a pretty big bang for your buck!

Story Time Chess is the perfect fun and educational option for parents looking to promote their child’s skills! Not only will your child gain the benefits of learning and loving the game, but Story Time Chess incorporates reading out loud into every lesson. Storytelling is the basis of our curriculum!

Reading aloud with your child is one of the most beneficial activities you can do with them. Not only does this foster a love of reading and creativity, reading aloud encourages brain development, mindfulness, active learning, and so much more!

Here are eight benefits of reading Story Time Chess aloud to your child.

1. Let’s get creative, shall we? 

Did you know reading stimulates the imagination? Reading aloud to your child, even for just a few minutes every day, helps their brain development in exciting ways. Studies show that certain parts of a child’s brain are stimulated and physically light up when a child listens to a story! How cool is that?

The areas of the brain related to story comprehension, visual imagery, and creative play are the most affected by the practice of daily, out loud reading. Sitting down and spending time in Chesslandia with King Chomper and King Shaky is the perfect way to engage your child in creative storytelling with multiple end goals in sight!

Not only is your child learning the rules of chess, but they are also letting their imaginations and creativity run wild. 

2. The gift that keeps on giving. 

Encouraging a love of reading is one of the best gifts you can give your children! Once children learn to read, they will always have an entertainment option and a joy for learning and knowledge. What a treat!

Reading together is a beautiful way to connect with your child, even as early as infancy. While Story Time Chess is recommended for children starting at age three, younger siblings will also benefit from hearing the stories. Don’t be surprised if they are suddenly making some chess moves of their own!

3. We could all use a little zen. 

Evidence suggests that reading encourages mindfulness in both children and adults. Sitting down together as a family and listening to a story is the perfect way to practice living in the moment, even if it’s just for a small chunk of time.

Pausing to communicate with your child about the story and its action is a great way to connect and stay focused on the task at hand during your new mindfulness practice. Taking time to ask your child questions about the story also encourages active listening and sharpens their comprehension skills.

Elaine Smookler, a psychotherapist, performer, and mindfulness teacher, encourages reading aloud as the perfect mindfulness practice.  

“Mindfulness is about engagement,” says Smookler. “If we’re reading but not necessarily connecting with the other person, or we’re trying to make ourselves sound a certain way, we can easily slip into automatic pilot. But, if we can courageously stand on the precipice of opening up a book, take a few breaths, and enter into sharing with another person — staying close to the intention of being present — reading aloud can be a powerful instrument of connection.” 

By creating a critical thinking “culture” while reading, your child will learn to stay engaged and curious during any story. Eventually, this advanced listening style will become habitual, helping kids become powerful readers when they learn to read to themselves.

Our stories are engaging yet digestible, the perfect read-aloud option for families. Each story introduces a new chess character and relates the game’s rules through a silly and enticing tale. Children learn the rules of chess through these stories and can apply their new knowledge to their chess game. 

4. Take a look — it’s in a book!

Reading aloud together encourages communication between parents and children. While reading aloud, parents are more likely to take the time to ask their children questions throughout the story. This practice encourages conversation and opens the door to questions and comments while learning.

Studies show that parent-child communication is more frequent and emotionally responsive while reading together. While families still communicate during a movie or television, the conversation tends to be less learning-based and conversational.

Story Time Chess tales offer the perfect opportunity to stop and discuss what your child learned after each lesson. It is encouraged to help enforce the rules of the chess game!

5. Don’t be passive; let’s get active. 

Reading is an active form of entertainment. When children listen to a story or read to themselves, they must take an active role in their learning. Storytelling forces the reader to use their imagination and visualize a setting, characters, and scenes based on the author’s descriptions and visual clues. Readers tend to reflect on the plot while reading instead of sitting back and taking a passive view of the story.

Story Time Chess is the perfect way to encourage active listening in your child. Our stories convey chess rules in silly and fun ways, allowing children to learn while listening to creative storytelling. Children, and adults too, must apply the stories to their chess games, encouraging them to use their most active listening skills.  

6. Take a step back in time. 

Sitting down as a family harkens back to the days before screens entered our lives. A time when sharing a story was the primary source of entertainment and fun! While we are eternally grateful for screens and their ability to connect us to work, education, and loved ones, we can all benefit from a few screen-free family activities.

Story Time Chess introduces your child to the age-old game of chess and the classic storytelling art with a modern twist! Our stories appeal to young children and pull them into the world of Chesslandia, one silly story at a time.

7. Story Time Chess is just right. 

A recent study uncovered a so-called "Goldilocks Effect,” by analyzing three different storytelling styles and their relation to a child’s ability to learn and retain information. Led by Dr. John Hutton, this study found that a mix of animation and storytelling was the most effective way to help children retain information and engage their brains.

"For 3- to 5-year-olds, the imagery and default mode networks mature late and take practice to integrate with the rest of the brain," Hutton explained in an interview with NPR. “When we read to our children, they are doing more work than meets the eye. It's that muscle they're developing bringing the images to life in their minds."

Story Time Chess comes with a beautifully designed storybook that captures the perfect mix of storytelling and engaging artwork. It is the ideal way to learn the rules of chess and capture your child’s imagination at the same time! Instead of telling children what something is, Story Time Chess shows chess rules through stories.

8. The snuggle is real.

Reading aloud to your child creates the perfect opportunity for close physical contact. When a parent and child read together, they are typically snuggled close, giving the child a sense of safety. This physical closeness often leads to more open conversations between parent and child and a calming atmosphere to fall in love with reading. 

Nothing would make us happier than knowing families around the country are snuggling close, learning about King Chomper, King Shaky, and the rest of the Story Time Chess gang!

There you have it! The eight benefits of reading a Story Time Chess story aloud to your child! 

Get your copy of Story Time Chess today and let the games and reading begin!

 Already a Story Time Chess fan? Return to Chesslandia with Story Time Chess: Level 2, an expansion strategy workbook for ages three and up! Take your
child’s chess knowledge to the next level with nine all-new stories and lessons, plus a bunch of new friends like the Cranky Princess, Casanova the Dragon, and Thalia the Octopus!