Leaving child at a party - what age?

Before I start, this is not a question to cause debate on any one else's view.

DD is having a 5th birthday party tomorrow and has invited a lot of kids from kindy.. I have a had a few parents ask if it is drop off, or parents stay party?

I have answered with "most parents are staying however I am ok with the child being dropped off if need be"

I have established 2 of them were due to siblings, and not having anyone to look after them, but have let them know that bringing siblings is fine. It is a party at home with games and cake :) The other one has double committed and might not be able to stay, but happy to leave her DD.

I haven't even met some of these children and parents that are coming, so I was a bit taken aback by the question. If I knew the parents, then I would consider leaving my DD at this age, if I needed to (not suitable for sibling, or something else on at same time) but it had not occurred to me with a family I don't know.

Depends on my situation what I do but if you want to make yourself feel more comfortable have a pad and pen and make sure the parent leave you their name and contact numbers.

I left Ashton when he was 5. I wasn't feeling well so didn't want to stay. I asked first if it was okay, and the mother of the child having the birthday said it was fine. Anyway they had a face painter and he got scared of the other kids with different faces and burst into tears and wasn't consolable. I got a phone call to come and pick him up. I have never left him since.

IMO once they start school they are old enough for the drop-off party.

Most parents at our school left their kids from Grade One, (not prep), unless they knew the family personally.

At 5, I would only feel comfortable if I knew the parents. With DD1's 5yo party most parents stayed, the one I do remember dropping off was dropping off twins who were the oldest amongst the group.

I know that it is quite different amongst other parents. I have heard parents complain about dropping off at a 5yo birthday, yet I went to a 4yo birthday (so many kids were only 3) that all parents but myself just dropped off (it was very awkward as I just did not know it was a drop off party)

From grade 1 if they or I were comfortable.

On saying this, if it's later in the year, I have asked a parent who DS2 (prep) was comfortable with to take him to a party if I couldn't get him to the party myself.

DS1 has really only just been comfortable with me leaving him at parties, he has just turned 9.

apart from asking for the mobile number, i would also spell it out "is there anything your child is allergic to, has your child got any medical conditions i need to be aware of?" - for the parents you don't know, but who choose to drop their child off with you. Safety first yada yada.

there are 31 kids in my child's prep class, so although i know some of the parents (on a basis level), there are many i've never spoken with.

Like AstroLady's example, bilby gets scared at things that some other kids her age, don't get scared about, so i would prefer to stay. Kids getting their face painted like Spiderman, or skulls etc, freaks her out.

DD1 had a party today. She is 6.5 but prefers me to stay. Not usually a prob as I'm friends with most of the mums and we use kids parties as a catch up for ourselves. However today the hostess was concerned that most mums had dropped and run and she hadn't even had time to get the contact details of the mums before they disappeared. This was at a club too, so not at home.

Guess it depends on the kids and the parent set.

DS1 is going to a party in a few weeks at a lego centre and it is a drop off and leave for 1 hr party as they are only allowed to have 3 adults stay so off course birthday boys parents and 1 other. I am only ok with this as it is a mother group friend so will know 90 % of the children and off course know birthday boys mum very well.

If it was a party at home or somewhere not enclosed like lego land I would not be comfortable.

I tried to stay at the last party because I like the Mum but DS hustled me out the door after about 5 minutes lol. I'm not allowed to stay.

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IMO once they start school they are old enough for the drop-off party.

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This is my view too, and what I remember as a kid, but I haven't had to do it yet lol.

Thanks for tips on getting details, although the Mum that might not stay I have her number in my phone (that is how we have been talking), and also address as her DD is having a party in a few weeks time..

I never thought to ask on allergies/medical conditions, so thank you..

I suppose I hadn't really considered it myself as DD gets really clingy and if we go to a 'home' party and there are pets, she freaks out, so leaving her would be very stressful on all involved.

I've left DD once because we were moving house and I just couldn't stay but didn't want her to miss out. So I left my number and asked a couple of other mums who staid to call if needed.

I've been on the other side (hosting and had kids left) and always ask the same questions about allergies and medical conditions. They've always seemed taken aback by that but I want the kids safe in my care.