Depends on the child, venue and what the party is.
Liebling has insisted I stay until age 6, but many parents have told me I can go before that.
At leisure centres etc they have enough staff so I can leave, at people's homes I ask if they want a hand.
If an entertainer is provided, I am less likely to be needed. If it's the sort of party I do, an extra eye for the activities is usually welcome so I can serve up hot food too.
So no hard and fast ettiquette. I would say you pay for the invitees, not any tagalongs though.
Last year at 5 DS1 went to some drop off partys and some where I stayed. The drop off ones were mothers group friends and I have known them and trusted them for 5 years so was not an issue at all. I am not comfortable dropping him off for a party where I do not know the parents well.
As for the movies I would ask ad say you are taking your DD and she would like a friend to come alone would blah child like to come and just say you are welcome to come along as well. We have done movies a few holidays in a row and I have always asked a friend with kids and kids have a ball. They have always paid own way.
Gosh, depends. I have found it a mix with 5yo's. I am ok with drop off at 5 depending on location, type of party etc, but I have come across other parents who complained that parents dared drop off and leave at kinder age, so I think it depends on the parent group. Also depends on child. DD2 was better with kinder parties than with childcare ones with being dropped off.
We always cater for parents, we are out of town, so often it is not worth them leaving.
As for movies, I would pay for a party situation which I was holding.
Re: What's the etiquette with parties?
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