ABSTRACT
In the temperate Australian climate, little harm can come of a child “underdressed” in cooler weather at an early childhood setting. Despite this, it is common for parents/carers and educators to insist on children applying warmer garments before they head outdoors, even against a child’s clearly expressed wishes. Conversely, in the warmer months, sun protection policies are based on significant safety concerns and often leave little room for negotiation. This chapter will consider the daily interaction of dressing for outdoors across the seasons through the lens of children’s participation rights and a conceptual framework based upon Derrida’s (2000) ethic of hospitality. By interrogating roles of host and guest, this chapter questions what these every/day interactions communicate to children about their expertise and participatory abilities.
