No. There's no reason a non-family individual twice the age of a child should be hanging out with the child socially. What good could possibly come of it? The first problem is that an 8yo has the ability to give out his/her contact information to anyone.
In this scenario you have, for all inte...
The other responses are quite naive. I agree that this is highly innapropriate and potentially dangerous situation. There is no good reason for the 17 year old to be hanging out with a 9 year old.
@user1751825 Thanks again. What about babysitting? I made edits to OP after the answers were posted but before you posted your comment. Please consider double checking the edits.
@BCLC Babysitting is a bit different. That's a pre-arranged agreement between the older teen and the younger child's parents/guardians. The roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. It's different to them just choosing to hang out socially.
@user1751825 Thanks. They babysit outside instead of inside. Eg the parents have instructed/allowed the sitter and sittee to eat out for lunch or dinner. What's the problem there? Please consider posting your own answer explaining the difference between social hanging out and babysitting. What, you can't have a sitter who is friends with the sittee? Note: When I 1st saw a situation like this I immediately thought it was very weird/suspicious/creepy/strange/dangerous. But then I thought of babysitting. (And the other answer seems convincing.) I'm inclined to agree, but please elaborate.
Discussion on answer by mikem: Can it…
Discussion on answer by mikem: Can it…