Fairness — Philosophy, 4–6 years
Fairness asks whether people are being treated in a way that makes sense, not merely whether everything looks identical. It helps groups share, take turns and make rules together.
Fair does not always mean equal
Equal means giving everyone the same amount. Fair means giving people a reasonable chance, which may sometimes require different help. If two people share one high stool, the shorter person may need it first to see the show.
Why think about fairness?
Groups need ways to share things that cannot all belong to one person, such as the first turn or the last slice. Without a fair plan, the strongest or fastest may always take it. Fair rules give everyone a reason to trust the group.
Two biscuits, three people
There are two biscuits for three people. Giving both to the fastest child is not a fair plan. The children break each biscuit into three equal pieces, so each person gets two pieces. They have the same amount, and nobody is left out.
Exactly the same
It can seem unfair when people receive different things, because equal piles are easy to compare. But people may have different needs or may have contributed differently. Ask what happened and what each person needs before judging.
Fair rules for play
In a game, fairness can mean taking turns, letting everyone join and using the same rule for similar cases. If one player changes a rule only when losing, the others can ask whether the rule is fair for everyone. Groups can adjust rules together.
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