At what age do parents start dropping off kids to playdates and parties without staying?

Question

At what age do parents start dropping off kids to playdates and parties without staying?

Answer 1

It depends on how well you know the adults involved. But once your children are first grade and above, you can bow out gracefully. I wouldn't leave, though, until I'd first asked the hosting parent about it. Some parents would like other adults to stay, some would be fine with you leaving. As long as everyone is cool with it, including the kids, you can leave.

Answer 2

All depends on kids personality & whom you are dropping them with. I started dropping my older daughter off when she was 6 but only with parents that I knew well  & relatives that i trusted, but my son is so different I had dropped him off only once when he was 8, because he is scared all the time.

Answer 3

Her first birthday party where I dropped her off and left was when she was 6 (Kindergarten).  I've never been to a party before that where the parents weren't invited to stay (like a chuckecheese party, the parents can stay).  She was really nervous and cried.  I stayed for a little bit until she felt ok.  She still gets nervous at drop-off parties.  In fact she's 7 now and just a few weeks ago, I dropped her off and she cried too.  I know the parents somewhat and I know she is safe with them.  When I had her 7 year old party, I had a Dad stay for the entire 2 hours.  Thank god my husband was around to entertain him.  I think it's ridiculous.  Maybe stay for 15-20 minutes top, scope out the place, etc. then leave.  But he stayed out of the way and didn't even have cake! Phew!

Answer 4

Between my four kids, I've been to (and hosted) a fair number of birthday parties.  In my neighborhood, if you're 3 or under, the parents generally stay (with the occasional exception where the parents and kids know each other really well).  If you're first grade and up, the parents generally don't (with the occasional exception when a kid is really shy or can't swim well and it's a swim party, etc.).  For 4 and 5 year olds, it can go either way.

My position is that parents can do what they want.  If someone's kid is in my house, then I think the parents are certainly welcome to be there if they or their child feels more comfortable that way.

Answer 5

For playdates it depends on how well I know the person. If I know them well I drop off now at 15 months for family playdates between me and SIL (as she does her kids at my house) but otherwise I stay.

To totally drop off somewhere I would say kindergarten is a good age for a couple hours for a playdate type thing with a good buddy.

For parties, I'd say preschool, at 4 years old unless of course the mom hosting asks for some volunteers to stay and help with crowd control at which point I may stay if she needed me and asked, but I wouldn't impose myself on someone's gathering that way.

Right now my son is only 15 months so pretty much where he goes I go (or my husband goes) because of his age. When he starts school and is about 4 that will slowly start to change as he will be more comfortable with some settings than others with us or not.

Answer 6

my son's fist birthday party invite was this year and he was 6yrs and I dropped him off at the center where the party was held and stayed 5 min to talk to the mother and came back later for the opening of gifts.....it depends on the maturity of the child and the ratio of adults to children...at the center there where just as many adults as children so I had no worries.....

Answer 7

My mom started when I was 6. I still wanted her to stay and I cried when she left...but after that I was fine and had fun. I hope this helped.

-Tara

Answer 8

I started dropping off when my kids were in 1st grade.  Other kids were dropped off earlier than that, but my kids weren't comfortable until 1st grade.  If you're sure that the party is "secure", then I'd let your kids be your guide.  If it's safe, and your kids don't mind, then try dropping off.  Otherwise, stay until they're comfortable being there by themselves.

Kids are all different.  I have twins, and my daughter was ready to be dropped off before my son.  You just need to do what's comfortable for them and not place them in a situation where they're going to feel unsafe.

However, I can think of parties this year (2nd grade) when I stayed because I wasn't comfortable with the party setting and I didn't think the parents or party staff could do an adequate job watching all the kids.  These were parties in large public places where it would be easy for the kids to get lost or distracted.

Answer 9

as soon as I was able to go to friends house and talk >_> (ike 5 years old I think)

I'd say when ever kids are confortable...

Answer 10

my parents did that when i was four so i would say 4

Answer 11

It depends if you know the other childrens parents and so on.. If you know them then go ahead and drop them off, but if you don'r know them then introduce your self and ask what kind  of party it is and make sure you meek the parents child!!!

Answer 12

It is up to you and your child. My son started kindergarten he had friends come over and play and he would go to their house. It's really up to how comfortable you are with whom you are leaving your child with and if your child or the child who stays at your house is not scared to be there without you or their parents.