we really need to push back on this increasingly common idea that an adult and a child can never have anything in common and should never be interacting outside of very specific, strictly monitored circumstances. growing up my mom would take us to the park and she would also play with the other random kids who were there, I don't think you can do this anymore. I spent most of my 8th grade lunches hanging out alone with my english teacher talking about books and life and culture, I don't think this would be allowed anymore. the potential for someone to exploit a child and do harm will always be there, but I think acting like children can never benefit from a friendship with an adult really just harms children in the long run. as a child/teen who dealt with severe mental illness, to this day I still remember the impact that kind adults had on me growing up.