I guess I should start by explaining that I’m not a parent, although I’ve talked to many parents over the past half century. Perhaps this puts me in a better position because I can take an objective approach. It’s been fascinating, and, at times, disturbing, to see how parenting has changed over the years.

Meet Mr & Mrs X. They believe that childhood should be fun, and also that their children should have the opportunity to try out as many things as possible. So their children’s lives are a frenetic whirl of both fun and enriching activities. They’ll be signed up for every extra-curricular club that’s going, and whenever Mr & Mrs X read something about a particular activity being good for children, they’ll add that to their list because they don’t want them to miss out. In between times, they’re also playing the latest computer games, which, of course, are also good for you.

Mr & Mrs X’s children love the chess club at their primary school. They enjoy playing low level games against their friends every week, they love their chess teacher who gives them short ‘fun’ lessons which make them laugh. They particularly love chess club in the spring term when their school takes part in the UK Chess Challenge and they get to win badges, fluffy mascots and other small prizes. Getting small rewards like this make every activity even more fun.

But if you gave Master and Miss X some worksheets to solve they’d tell you it wasn’t fun. If you asked them to do some homework their parents would tell you they didn’t have time because their lives were full with so many other activities, they want them to have a balanced life, and besides it wouldn’t be fun. If you invited them to join an external club, or suggested that some private tuition would be helpful, again they’d be far too busy. If you invited them to play in a tournament, while they might consider the UKCC Megafinals because they think they might win some more fluffy mascots, they’ll probably say no.

So they end up playing for about 45 minutes (having taken off the admin time) for 30 weeks of the year. If you tell their parents or teachers that they’re playing at a fairly low level they’d tell you it doesn’t matter as long as they’re having fun.