Tiny rights? Reflections on the participation of toddlers in public space

This article draws on data from a research project on Swedish preschool children’s outdoor encounters to discuss toddlers’ participation in and access to public space. Toddlers occupy a vulnerable position because, more than older children, they are affected by interdependencies, and social, cultural, spatial, material, economic, and environmental conditions. Our concept of “tiny rights” highlights this marginalised position, extending to public and scholarly debates on children’s rights and public space access. The results call for the embedding of a culture of “tiny rights” recognition in public space that begins by taking seriously the participation of the youngest members of our society.