When my daughter was about to turn 2, SHE decided...sort of an all out strike, that she would wear nothing but dresses. She lived in simple cotton knit dresses most of the time. In winter she wore cable knit tights...usually a funky patterned one with her plain dresses (we had a lot of Lands End dresses...loved them). This went on until the last weeks of Kindergarten when she finally wore some leggings....but until she was about 8 it was still mostly dresses.
We had a rule, however. Playground play meant bike shorts underneath. She relented (after weeks and weeks of sitting out). I do home daycare so alot of it was even in our own backyard...but other kids were around...even after daycare hours many neighborhood kids came over (we had a great yard!). As soon as she got back in the house after the park or our own yard, she whipped those shorts off.
It was a dress only zone for years here, but I was strict about the no-panties peeking out as well. I do not want to see any girl or womens under clothes out in public. I don't even like to see bra straps on teens or any other age. Why would you purposely not wear a tank or tshirt that covers them up? When did THAT become socially acceptable??
Keep your under things UNDER...and for M. that teaching began when my daughter was very young. She dresses very modestly now as a 17 year old and I am glad. At no time did I want her to equate underwear with swimsuit. They ARE different and a distinction should be made in my opinion. J. like the bra straps thing. I HATE that.
I think if little girls are going to be climbing and such, they should be dressed right. If they want to wear a dress, GREAT! But cover up the panties. No one wants to or needs to have access to that view of anyone elses child. JMO~