Teaching Fairness to KS1 Children: 5 Strategies That Work

By Proud Books UK | February 20, 2026 | 8-minute read

"That's not FAIR!"

Every parent of a 5-7 year old has heard this phrase approximately 7,000 times. Usually about biscuit distribution or bedtime negotiations.

But beneath the whining is something profound: your child has an innate sense of justice. The question is—what version of fairness are you teaching?

Is fairness "everyone gets the same"? Or "everyone gets what they need"? Is it "majority rules" or "protect the minority"? Is it "rules are rules" or "rules can change"?

These aren't abstract philosophy questions. They're daily dilemmas for KS1 children. Here's how to teach fairness that actually works in the real world.

Why Fairness Matters at KS1

Young children are fairness detectives. They notice:

When one child always gets picked first
When playground rules favor the older kids
When the teacher's pet gets away with more
When someone's left out because they're "different"

What they do with that noticing—whether they shrug, sulk, speak up, or scheme—depends on what you've taught them about fairness.

Research: A 2017 Yale study found that by age 6, children can distinguish between equality (everyone gets the same) and equity (everyone gets what's fair). But they need explicit teaching to choose equity over rigid equality.

The Magna Carta Lesson

In 1215, King John of England was making up rules that only worked for him. Unfair taxes. Arbitrary punishments. No accountability.

The barons said: No. Not even the king is above the rules. The rules have to work for everyone.

That's Magna Carta. Not perfect democracy—but the foundational idea: Power must be shared. Rules must be fair. Even to the people in charge.

For a 7-year-old? That translates to: If the rule doesn't work for everyone, it's not a good rule. Even if you're the one making it.

The 5 Strategies

1. Let Them Make the Rules (Then Live With Them)

Don't just impose fairness. Let your child design it—and experience the consequences.

Example: Sibling game time.

"You decide: how should we split the 30 minutes on the iPad? Write the rule."

Common first attempt: "I get 20 minutes, my brother gets 10."

Your response: "Okay. Let's write that down. Tomorrow, your brother makes the rule. Will you be happy if he gives himself 20 and you 10?"

(Pause. Rethink.)

Better rule: "We each get 15 minutes."

Why it works: The Magna Carta principle is "rules that work for everyone, even the powerful." This teaches: design rules you'd accept even if you're NOT in charge.

2. Teach "Fair" Isn't Always "Same"

Equality ≠ fairness. This is hard for young children—but essential.

Scenario: Your 7-year-old gets to stay up 30 minutes later than your 4-year-old.

4-year-old: "That's not fair!"

You: "Fair doesn't always mean the same. It means everyone gets what they NEED. You need more sleep because you're younger. When you're 7, you'll stay up later too. That's fair."

Why it works: Equity thinking. This prevents the rigid "everyone must get identical treatment" mindset that ignores context.

3. Use the "Rule Test" Framework

Give your child a tool to evaluate any rule. Teach them to ask three questions:

Does it work for everyone? (Not just the person in charge)
Does it protect the weakest person? (Not just the strongest)
Would you want this rule if you were on the other side? (The flip test)

Playground scenario: "Only Year 2s can use the swings at lunch."

Rule Test:
1. Does it work for everyone? No—Year 1s can't swing.
2. Does it protect the weakest? No—it excludes younger kids.
3. Would Year 2s want this rule when they're in Year 3? No—they'd be excluded too.

Verdict: Bad rule. What's a fairer rule? "Everyone gets 10 minutes, then swap."

Why it works: It's a mental checklist. Instead of vague "that's not fair!" protests, they have a framework for WHY.

4. Tell the Magna Carta Story

Abstract fairness lessons don't stick. Historical stories do.

The KS1 version:

"A long time ago, Britain had a king named John. He made up rules that only helped him. If he wanted your land, he took it. If he wanted money, he demanded it. No one could say no—because he was the king."

"The barons (the lords who helped run the country) said: This isn't fair. We need rules that work for EVERYONE. Even the king."

"So they wrote the Magna Carta. It said: No one is above the rules. Not even the most powerful person. The rules have to be fair—even to the king."

Then connect it to their world:

"Imagine if the teacher said: 'I don't have to line up at lunch, but you do.' Would that be fair?"

(No!)

"Exactly. That's what the Magna Carta barons said. If the rule is good, it applies to everyone—even the person in charge."

Why it works: It gives them a reference point. "Is this a King John rule (only helps the powerful) or a Magna Carta rule (works for everyone)?"

5. Model Fairness When It Costs You

Children watch how YOU behave when fairness is inconvenient.

Scenario: You're running late. Your child asks if they can have a second biscuit because "yesterday you said I could."

Temptation: "Not now, we're late." (Fair rule, but ignored when it's hard.)

Better: "You're right. I said you could. Let me honor that—grab the biscuit, we'll eat it in the car." (Fair rule, upheld even when inconvenient.)

Why it works: Kids learn that fairness isn't just a concept you preach when it's easy. It's a value you LIVE when it costs you.

The Maisie Test: A Story That Teaches Fairness

We wrote Tomorrow's Rules specifically to teach this value. Here's the story:

Maisie loves making rules. She carries a clipboard and invents playground regulations: "No running on the grass." "Only 3 people on the climbing frame." "Quiet voices near the library."

The problem? Maisie's rules only work for HER. She gets to decide who breaks them. She gets to choose the punishments. Her friends start avoiding her.

At the end, we connect it to Magna Carta: "In 1215, the king made rules that only worked for him. The barons said: No. Rules have to work for everyone—even the king. That's fairness."

Maisie learns: If the rule doesn't work for everyone, it's not a good rule. Even if you're the one making it.

Read Tomorrow's Rules

See how Maisie learns fairness—inspired by the Magna Carta's revolutionary idea.

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What NOT to Do

Don't enforce "fairness" that's actually equality: "Everyone gets 10 minutes" sounds fair—but what if one child needs 5 and another needs 20? Context matters.

Don't let "fair" mean "no consequences": Fair rules include fair enforcement. If your child breaks the rule, follow through. Fairness ≠ leniency.

Don't make exceptions for yourself: If bedtime is 7:30pm for everyone, don't then stay up till midnight without explanation. Model the rule applying to you too (adjusted for age/need).

The KS1 Fairness Development

Ages 5-7 is when children:

Age 5: Understand "taking turns" and "everyone gets one"
Age 6: Begin to distinguish equality vs. equity (same vs. fair)
Age 7: Can evaluate whether a rule is just, not just whether it's followed

This is the window to teach: Fairness isn't about rigid sameness. It's about rules that work for everyone, especially the vulnerable.

Your Next Step

This week, try this:

Let them make one rule: Family game night, chore rotation, anything. Make them design it.
Use the Rule Test: Next time they say "that's not fair," ask: Does the rule work for everyone? Does it protect the weakest?
Tell the Magna Carta story: Keep it short. "Even the king had to follow fair rules."

Fairness is a muscle. Build it now—at ages 5-7—and you'll raise a child who doesn't just complain about unfairness. They'll FIX it.

Stories That Build Fairness

Proud Books uses real British history to teach values like fairness, courage, and persistence—in stories designed for ages 5-7.

Coming Autumn 2026. Get the free sample chapter now.

Download Free Sample