Daily Times

In an era dominated by screens, Pakistani singer and activist Shehzad Roy has stepped forward with a creative solution to help parents manage their children’s screen time.

Through his non-profit, Zindagi Trust, Roy has made a comprehensive chess curriculum freely available, aiming to encourage critical thinking and strategic planning in children.

On Sunday, Roy shared a heartfelt Instagram post addressing the challenges parents face in reducing their children’s dependence on digital devices. He advocated for chess as a transformative activity, stating, “If you want to lower your kids’ screen time, teach them chess.”

Roy reminisced about introducing chess in Zindagi Trust schools years ago, saying, “Because this is a competitive mind sport, we observed kids sitting alone for hours, thinking and strategizing. They were spending time with themselves.” He highlighted the program’s success, sharing that girls from the initiative have won Pakistan’s top chess championships.

The chess curriculum, developed since 2011, is designed to enhance cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities. It combines foundational chess techniques with advanced strategies, fostering an engaging learning environment.

Encouraging parents to utilize the free curriculum available on the Zindagi Trust website, Roy emphasised its benefits, noting how it can transform routines while improving mathematical and critical thinking skills.