This summer, the world of chess witnessed history being made — 17-year-old Indian Grandmaster Gukesh D defeated the reigning chess legend Magnus Carlsen in classical chess at Norway Chess 2025. This remarkable achievement isn’t just a proud moment for India — it’s a beautiful reminder of the power of focus, strategy, and discipline that can start taking root as early as preschool!

At Li’l Miracles International Preschool, we’re taking inspiration from this moment to talk about something very close to our hearts: screen-free summers and the joy of board games.

Why Screen-Free Summers Matter

In a digital world filled with tablets, smartphones, and endless video content, our little ones are increasingly overstimulated and disconnected from real-world interactions. Summer vacations offer the perfect opportunity to break this cycle.

A screen-free summer isn’t about denying children fun — it’s about rediscovering joy in the real world, nurturing attention spans, social skills, emotional regulation, and creative thinking. These are the same life skills that chess, and other board games, quietly build.

What Can a 17-Year-Old Chess Champion Teach Preschoolers?

While your preschooler may not be solving grandmaster puzzles just yet, Gukesh D’s journey started young — with curiosity, play, and a love for the game. He likely spent hours away from screens, engaging deeply in a slow, thoughtful activity that developed his brain in powerful ways.

Board games like chess, memory games, Snakes & Ladders, Ludo, or even storytelling card games introduce children to essential skills:

• Patience and turn-taking
• Planning and strategy
• Losing gracefully
• Concentration and focus
• Mathematical and logical thinking Connection and communication

These are real-world skills that devices don’t teach.

At Li’l Miracles: We Play to Grow

Our play-based curriculum already integrates many screen-free strategies — including puzzles, pretend play, building blocks, and yes, age-appropriate board games. We use these tools to develop your child’s cognitive, emotional, and social intelligence.

This summer, we encourage parents to swap the screen time with board game time. Make it part of your daily family ritual — maybe a game before bedtime, or a weekend family tournament. Not only will you create lasting memories, but you’ll also be shaping minds, just like Gukesh’s was shaped years ago.

Pro Tip for Parents

Start small. You don’t need to jump into chess right away. Games like Zingo, Sequence for Kids, or Color & Shape Bingo are wonderful starting points for preschoolers. Gradually, you can introduce logic-building games or even mini chess boards with fun visuals.

Let’s Raise Focused, Creative Thinkers

Who knows — your child’s first board game this summer could spark a passion that leads to a national or global achievement in the future. Let’s remember: every big dream starts with small steps — and sometimes, a simple screen-free game played together at home.

This summer, let’s power down the screens… and power up the minds!

Inspired by Gukesh, and championed by parents like you.

For more such learnings, read our blogs at www.lilmiracles.in

Riitu Sharma
Co-Founder

Li’l Miracles International Preschool