In the Places to Play in Providence (Rhode Island) project, teachers treat children as citizens--not as hypothetical or future citizens, but as contemporary members of their community. They see children as capable of constructing and communicating complex ideas, adding their unique and valuable perspectives. What does it mean for a city or a state or even a country to embrace its young children as citizens? It involves developing approaches to encourage children's participation in civic life so that their ideas can be seen and heard, and it involves changing the perceptions and priorities of adults to embrace the rights of children as citizens. This is no small endeavor, but Providence has made a start. Young children know about play, so they are qualified to be called experts. They are--for a moment--contributors to and stakeholders in their community. In opportunities facilitated by early childhood educators, children and adults engage in dialogue about what is important to them. They are all citizens discussing the present and future of their community.