ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at children's early experience of seniority and gender distinctions; rank, by which one is either 'chief' or 'commoner', seems to be articulated to seniority. The hierarchy that is constituted within the household and made concrete in the design and use of house space pivots on a transformation of balanced exchange relations between men and women into one where a man's contribution is valued above his wife's. Positive parental teaching prompts children to observe various formalities and politenesses and to use proper kin terms. Children rely on their peers for play and conversation; they are lively and forthcoming 'authorities' with younger children and humble audience with older children. The bringing of mats and coconut oil for a ceremonial exchange is always a woman's duty in the case if mats, and usually so in the case of oil, though bottles of oil are sometimes prepared and brought by men.
