Young children as theory makers and co-creators of cultural practices: challenging the authenticity of Santa

This paper argues that when young children are given an opportunity for their voice to be heard, they competent communicators and social agents who can co-create cultural practices as theory makers. The draws on video recorded data from a small study focussed how (3–5 years) participated in end-of-year celebration early childhood education setting Australia. organized party, invited Santa Claus visit, setup special place where could hold conversations with Santa. Video of the initiated by were transcribed analysed using fine-grained interactional tools ethnomethodology, conversation analysis membership categorization analysis. Analyses identified children’s competence active challenged Santa’s authenticity through checking his appearance, knowledge testing and, suggesting he was not ‘real Santa’. evidence capacity authenticate experiences demonstrates incorporating co-creation culture fosters opportunities make interrogate theory.