Children become aware of fairness
Fairness can be a difficult concept to explain, yet there are many moments in a child’s day when fair and unfair things happen. Early learning professionals can help children talk about their feelings when these moments occur. As a group, brainstorm ways to improve fairness at your service.
Learning experiences
- Evaluate your environment for things that promote inequality (e.g. only having dolls with white skin). Provide books, media and toys that promote diverse people and perspectives. Talk to children about stereotypes and help them spot them in book illustrations. Are stereotypes fair?
- Drama and role play are highly effective ways to teach children about other people's feelings. Encourage children to act out scenarios that are unfair for a person (e.g. missing out on a biscuit because another person took two) and use this as a starting point for discussions about fairness.
- Encourage children to express their feelings when they are treated unfairly, and advocate for others in unfair situations.
- Encourage children to develop a sense of agency. Which groups of people in your community experience unfairness? How can you help them?
- As a group, write a list of classroom rules that promote fairness for everyone.
Explore the EYLF
Explore other areas of Learning Outcome 2, Children are connected to their world.
Explore all the EYLF Learning Outcomes, with links to children's interest topics, on The Interest Forest.