When did you start leaving your child at a birthday party?

[emelsea]

My title says it all...when did you start leaving your child at birthday parties?  Did it make a difference if the party was at the birthday child's home or a public place?

My DS is 6 and today he is going to a birthday party at one of those indoor jungle gym places.  He's been insisting all week that "the other mom's aren't staying!" and that I should not hang around. 

We're having some struggles for independence (if you couldn't tell).  I think I'd be OK with leaving him at a party if it was at the child's home, but this jungle gym place is CRAZY on the weekends, and there are hundreds of kids and adults.  The facility doesn't do anything to ensure that a child leaves with the person they came with - no bracelets or checks of any kind.  You just walk out and they wave bye-bye. 

[dbsam]

My children are six also.  This summer they were invited to a  house birthday party and most parents left; they wanted me to stay.  Last month my daughter was invited to a girls only, with six girls, at the house party and the mother made it clear that she did not want parents to stay.  (Which was strange, because in past parties the host always gave an option.)  I was a little nervous and she said a couple of the other parents were nervous too since it was their child's first drop-off party. 

So, in my experience, six seems to be the age people start dropping off at parties.  We just rec'd an invite for a party at the YMCA and we were given the option to stay; my children prefer I stay.

At a huge crowded public place like you mention, I would stay.  But I'm told I can be overprotective.

[Peony]

It has usually been 6 here as well. In this case since your children really don't want you to stay, but the place is crazy. I might stake out a place by the door and just read a book. 

[mamazee]

That usually starts at 5 here.

[DariusMom]

Usually starts around four here, because that's when most kids start school.

[mattemma04]

I have dropped off at homes when we did b parties starting at 5.Never would drop off in public places. I would stay nearby watching.

[inkslinger]

At my 6-year-old's last party, there were a few children whose parents dropped them off at the party and returned to pick them up afterward, but the majority of parents stayed.  I still stay with both of my daughters when they attend parties.  It's pretty common where I live to stay at the party with your child.

[moxielou]

My DD started to want me to leave when she was about 6.  However, if it were a situation like you described, I would not leave my child. I would just explain that it is crowded and you are going to wait nearby or outside.  If possible, bring a book and wait in the car? 

At my DD's last birthday--6 years old-- some parents dropped off and some stayed. I'm always clear that parents are welcome to stay. Many do because I bake really yummy cakes. :-)

[Drummer's Wife]

Age 6 sounds right to me (I am comfy leaving my 7 and 9 yr olds)... my 5.5 yr old? Probably not yet, unless it was a close friend and the party was at their house. That's just him, though, and maybe in a year I'll feel differently. That said, when he turned 5 and invited 4-5 yr olds from his pre-k class, only one parent stayed (and we planned it ahead oftime so we could visit/get to know each other better. My 7 yr old had one dad who stayed - so again, it just depends on the parents comfort level (we didn't know this family very well).

[MJB]

5 or 6. 

When my oldest turned 7 (last January) only one parent stayed. He was one of the oldest in his 1st grade class so most of the guests were still 6.