How Chess Builds Focus, Confidence & Resilience in Kids | Dan Shapiro

Dan Shapiro is the author of the newly released book Decoding Genius: The Unexpected Lessons of After-School Chess Club. ♟️ After seeing how chess helped his son Harry build confidence and stronger decision-making skills, Dan set out to better understand the mindset behind the game and what it can teach kids beyond the board. We sat down with Dan to explore how chess can support focus, patience, resilience, memory, creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to think ahead. 🧠 We also discuss how the game can be especially valuable for kids who may not naturally connect with more traditional extracurricular activities, and how it can help strengthen executive functioning, frustration tolerance, and self-confidence. We also dive into the ideas behind Decoding Genius, a thoughtful and practical book for parents, caregivers, and families looking for new ways to help kids build confidence, resilience, and real-world thinking skills. 💡 Dan shares how the lessons his son learned through chess began carrying over into school, music, technology use, and everyday decision-making, while highlighting the social and lifelong benefits of the game. To learn more about Dan and Decoding Genius, visit https://www.decodinggeniusbook.com/. You can also follow along on social media Instagram:   / decoding.genius   Facebook:   / decoding.genius  . Join Dr. Lauren LaRose, psychiatrist and mom of three, as she brings on experts in mental health, physical health and education and explores ideas outside the traditional medical model. The Little Brain Campaign aims to make issues kids and caregivers face easier to understand, while always keeping in mind that we need to look beyond the usual answers to find what really works. Follow The Little Brain Campaign Instagram:   / littlebraincampaign