Fairness - April
	Fair students... consider all the facts, including opposing views, before making a decision. do not take more than their fair share. do not take advantage of other people's mistakes. play by the rules, take turns, and share. are open-minded and listen to others. do not blame others carelessly.   Fairness at The Country School "Table Talk" 2011-2012 Shared Story for Fairness:    Past Shared Stories for Fairness: Henry and the Kite Dragon One Grain of Rice The Doorbell Rang The Three Princes Tops and Bottoms Best Friends for Frances During the month of April, The Country School will be learning about the value of fairness through discussions, role-playing, creative writing, and art.  We will be emphasizing that fairness means playing by the rules, taking turns, sharing, and listening. Fair people do not take advantage of others. They consider all sides before making decisions, and they don’t blame others unjustly. Help Children Understand How can you teach your very young child about fairness? You are your child’s first and most important teacher. Young children are very impressionable. They watch everything you do. If they see you following the rules, sharing with and listening to others, and not placing blame, they are likely to follow your example. Teach your child about values and goodness. When introducing the concept of fairness to a child, make sure to emphasize that fairness means: Everyone has the same chance People aren’t picked on because of how they look People aren’t liked because of what they have or what they can do for you   Fairness is not easy for children to understand. There are a number of things you can do to help them. Listen. Get down on the children’s level so they know you are listening. This helps build a foundation for teaching fairness. Children who are listened to will learn they are important and valuable, and they will be likely to listen to others when they are older. Share.Learning to share is not only necessary for making and keeping friends, but it is also essential to developing the virtues of fairness and compassion. Teach children to wait for their turn, to give everyone a chance, and not to be judgmental. Make rules. It is common for children to test the family rules. Announce rules for the family in writing. Make sure your children understand the rules and decide upon the consequences for breaking those rules. It is also a good idea to involve them in setting some of the rules.   Thank you for working with us to help teach your child about fairness!