How See Work as Play Can Help Raise Genius

What are the odds of 3 sisters all becoming genius at playing chess? This is the story of the Polgar sisters, and the exciting part is how their parents intentionally raised them to become geniuses.

Lazlo and Klara Polgar wanted to prove that any child has the innate capacity to become a genius in any chosen field, and indeed they did. Zsuzsa, the eldest, became the first female to be "Grandmaster of the Year”. Zsófia, the middle sister, achieved International Master status and spoke several languages. And Judit, the youngest, is still considered the best female chess ever.

The Polgar parents' methods for raising geniuses were unconventional. First, the method involved having the girls start their practice early and learn chess at three while homeschooled. Second, ensure they had positive reinforcement of their work by carefully selecting opponents that a good balance of challenging but winnable (usually 2-3 years older than them) to build their self-esteem. Last and most important, they made sure Chess was always seen first and foremost as a game, fun to play, rather than as something they needed to do.

The Polgar sisters' story teaches us that it's possible to turn work into play and enjoy the process of learning. While we tend to associate hard work as painful, trying to find a way to frame it like play might lead to successful and meaningful lives.

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