The least adult role or a playful researcher? Considering an adult’s role when researching with children

This paper aims to interrogate the concept of Mandell's ‘least adult role’ and its suitability when co-researching with children in contemporary contexts, particularly children from the Global South. The concept is interrogated in its use in a study in a Non-Governmental School in India. Methodological decisions are productively undone and plugged in to multiple theories, in order to seek a more equitable and ethical way of coresearching with young children. I offer the concept of ‘playful researcher’ and discuss how adult researchers can use playfulness as a disposition when co-researching with children.