Letting Kids Be Themselves

It was obvious at a young age that Michael had a flare for chess. He was playing with his friends after school and in the school chess club, before his parents arranged for him to play with adults who had studied the game for years.

For Michael, it was all great fun – something that came naturally to him. When one of Michael’s teachers suggested he play in national tournaments, his parents began to see a future for him as a chess star. Michael’s natural talent may have taken him a long way, but his parents hired a professional coach and began pushing him to compete, leaving Michael feeling so pressured that his interest waned.