History Main / MustHaveLotsOfFreeTime

Less likely to be lampshaded in a fantastic setting, or if [[VagueAge said folks are inhuman or magical in nature]]. Most of the time the audience doesn't really want an explanation. In the superhero genre, on the other hand, {{Sidekick}}s can be either much [[KidSidekick younger]] or much {{plder|Sidekick}} than the heroine without their age precluding them from falling outside the competence zone

Less likely to be lampshaded in a fantastic setting, or if [[VagueAge said folks are inhuman or magical in nature]]. Most of the time the audience doesn't really want an explanation. In the superhero genre, on the other hand, TheSidekick can be either much [[KidSidekick younger]] or much {{plder|Sidekick}} than the heroine without that precluding them from falling outside the competence zone

{{Subvert|edTrope}}ing the CompetenceZone results in one problem. It can be hard explaining why someone much older or younger would follow the cast around in the first place, especially if the story is trying to be realistic in explaining it and the audience immediately assumes they should spend their free time with people their own age. This leads to the [[EconomyCast reuse of characters]], especially as repurposed (and often self-imagined) guardians for characters who didn't have them in the first place. If it's an adult female she's usually [[OldMaid unmarried]].

Less likely to be lampshaded in a fantastic setting, or if [[VagueAge said folks are inhuman or magical in nature]]. Most of the time the audience doesn't really want an explanation.

SuperTrope of TokenAdult (the only oldest adult among a cast of children, teenagers, or younger adults) and TagalongKid (an enthusiastic child follows the heroes around and is an inconvenience to them). Compare and contrast OlderSidekick (the sidekick is older than the hero, which precludes them from falling outside the competence zone) and CompetenceZone (only people within a certain age group are competent; everyone else is TheDitz).

SuperTrope of TokenAdult (the only oldest adult among a cast of children, teenagers, or younger adults). Compare and contrast OlderSidekick (the sidekick is older than the hero, which precludes them from falling outside the competence zone).

Compare and contrast OlderSidekick. SuperTrope of TokenAdult (the only oldest adult among a cast of children, teenagers, or younger adults).

See also OlderSidekick.

* ''Film/{{Juliana}}'': It's heavily {{implied}} that Don Pedro (the kids' adult boss) is unemployed and spends most of his time engaging in illegal activities that he funds thanks to the kids' labor. When he's not doing that, he's either checking on the kids --waking them up, splitting them into work groups, and collecting his fee of their earnings-- or taking them to the beach on those rare occasions when he's in a good mood.

* ''Anime/YuGiOh'': Mai Kujaku/Valentine --who, as a professional duelist, does have quite a bit of free time on her hands-- hangs out with TrueCompanions eight-to-ten years younger than her. She also falls in love with [[LikesOlderWomen one of them]]. {{Justified}} because her little friends are champion duelists too, so they all ran in the same circles. She first meets them in a tournament they are all competing in.