Do you ATTEND kids' parties w/ your child?

[cotomom]

I'm curious what the 'norm' is. Seems like every party my 1st or 3rd grader gets invited to is a 'drop off' type party, whether it's at their house, or an indoor bounce house facility, etc. here in southern California.

What about a backyard swimming pool party? Would you drop off if you knew there was plenty of good supervision or would you want to stay? Does a swimming party make a difference in your decision or would you do your normal thing?

What about siblings?

 

[mickeyboat]

Most parties my girls' have gone to this year (they are in K) are drop-off parties at the kids' houses. I know the parents of most of these kids, so I don't worry about supervision.

They did go to a pool party this year, at a pool center where there were lifeguards. Some parents stayed at that one, but I didn't as my kids are pretty good swimmers, and know their limits. If there were no lifeguards, I don't think I would have left them.

We have always had parties where the kids and their parents/siblings were invited, but I think this year we are having a kid only party. If a parent was not comfortable leaving their child, they and their other children would be welcome to stay, but I would like to know ahead of time.

Denae

 

[Nicolepa]

For me it depends on where the party is. A bounce place, usually no. Every one of those I've gone to someone has been hurt, never serious, but I still want to be there. I did leave DD once. Dh was out of town and I had no one to watch my other one so we dropped her off. DD got hurt. Twisted her ankle, nothing serious but she limped around a couple of days. No way would I leave my child at a pool party. I don't care how much supervision is there, no one is going to watch your child like you and swimming is just too risky. My daughter can do laps in a full size pool in 3 different strokes and I still would not leave her.

If it were just at a party place with one entrance/exit then I'd probably be ok. Someones house usually ok.

 

[hppy2bhome]

It depends if I really know the parents. If I don't I'll stay to get a feel for the place or home. Is the home clean do they smoke swear drink? Is the place safe? If I'm comfortable then I leave if not then I stay and we will send a gift next year. I won't leave if there isn't enough parents to help.

Hppy2bhome

 

[aprilgail2]

I noticed that after Kindergarten none of the parents stayed with the kids at parties. I had a pool party for my daughter last year, just a mid summer party, not birthday and I would say half the kids parents stayed and the other half just dropped off. I had hired someone to watch them all in the pool, plus some parents stood near the pool and I made sure I had 20 sets of water wings in case the kids needed them.

 

[RadioNate]

here nearly all the parents stay. I've only seen a few 'drop offs' and that is usually because of confilcts with siblings or other events.

But I wouldn't drop off my DS at a pool party. Maybe in a few years but definately not right now. 3rd grade, maybe, if I knew my child could swim well and be trusted in the pool...1st grade no.

 

[JVL1018]

My daughter(K) I drop off at home parties, my son (preschool) I stay, but they've been at places like the children's museum and all parents stayed. I wouldn't stay at someone's home unless invited to do so.
Swimming parties, I'm staying or they won;t be going-DD can swim underwater but that's it, and DS can't swim.
NO siblings at the party. I would never in a million years bring one to a party the pther has been invited to.

 

[WDWfor5]

Most parties my girls' have gone to this year (they are in K) are drop-off parties at the kids' houses. I know the parents of most of these kids, so I don't worry about supervision.

They did go to a pool party this year, at a pool center where there were lifeguards. Some parents stayed at that one, but I didn't as my kids are pretty good swimmers, and know their limits. If there were no lifeguards, I don't think I would have left them.

We have always had parties where the kids and their parents/siblings were invited, but I think this year we are having a kid only party. If a parent was not comfortable leaving their child, they and their other children would be welcome to stay, but I would like to know ahead of time.

Denae

Just curious why you'd want to know ahead of time that a parent was staying? Not flaming, just curious. Is it just siblings that you'd want to know about or parents also?

I have DD 7 who's going into 2nd grade and I would never even consider leaving her at a pool party. I've occasionally left her at a house party but I knew I was welcome to stay. I think if I wasn't welcome to stay I probably wouldn't send her at all as it would make me uncomfortable.

 

[kidshop]

Ds was in first grade this year and the parties he went to were all in public places and a parent stayed with him. We just had his party at a park and all but one parent stayed. Last year (K) his party was at our house and 1/2 the parents stayed. I welcome all parents to stay and plan for it. I am most comfortable staying with my ds at this point. I would absolutely stay at a pool party for many years to come!

 

[INDISMOM]

I am having a pool party at my mom's house for DD8 in July. I am never comfortable leaving my daughter at a pool party, so I will state that on the invitation that parents are welcome, but not required. I do have 6 adult family members who will be supervising and there will only be 7 girls, but I think it is the parents choice if they feel comfortable leaving their daughter, and I would not be offended if they wanted to stay.

There are some parties where I have left my daughter and some I haven't. It depends on how well I know the parents and where the party is located.

 

[mickeyboat]

Just curious why you'd want to know ahead of time that a parent was staying? Not flaming, just curious. Is it just siblings that you'd want to know about or parents also?

It would be more for food/beverage/goody bag planning than anything else. If a parent stayed that I had not planned for, I would not freak out, but it would be nice to know in advance.

Denae

 

[golfgal]

No one stays at kid parties here for kids kindergarten and older unless it is a family kid party where mom, dad, siblings are invited. Pool parties here are either at the YMCA or the city pool with life guards or at one of the hotel pools and usually a 2 adults are enough to watch the kids since the pools are small and the area contained. Some friends threw our twins a going away party for their entire class at school, 42 of the 48 kids came, there were 3 adults there and that was sufficient (at the hotel pool). Most birthday parties tend to be for 10 or less kids so 2 adults can generally handle that easily. No one really throws huge blow out birthday parties around here.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I stick around with my daughter for parties (which have become weekly these days). Most parents do stay, and when a parent does leave its usually to take another child to a different party and they will usually ask another parent to keep an eye out not the host.

I think every parent stayed with their child at my daughters last party. It was nice and all the adults seem to enjoy chatting.

I welcome all parents and siblings, I do want to know ahead of time about siblings though so I have enough food and goodie bags for everyone.

 

[HayGan]

My kids are still young (4 & 6) and we have always stayed with them at parties. We always invite parents and siblings to out kids' parties. Most of my one son's friends are in the autism spectrum so I would expect their parents to stay with them at the events anyway!

 

[Talking Hands]

In our area nearly all the parents stay no matter the age until they are teens. Even then often parents are included.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

if it were a swimming party, i would definately stay, only b/c if i was having a swimming party i would reccomend that parents stay.

 

[froglady]

I hosted my first children's birthday party 18 years ago when DD turned 4. I invited her whole pre-school group (20 children) I also had coffee, danish, etc under the assumption that parents would be staying. (It was a Saturday, 11AM party)

NOT ONE PARENT STAYED! Thank God my SIL & BIL, my next door neighbor, and also my parents were attending, or I would have had no help whatsoever. And to top it off, my "entertainment" was an hour late.

I learned my lesson, and had smaller parties from that point on. I also researched all sorts of party games, so that I wouldn't have to depend on someon else. Again, most parents didn't stay, even for K & 1st grade.

 

[disykat]

I didn't leave unless I knew the parents or had stayed long enough to scope out the supervision. However, I always made other arrangements for my other child. If I couldn't find alternate arrangements for my other child, we declined the invitation.

Heck, my kids are now 11 and 13 and I still stay long enough to check out the supervision. Most parents do the same.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

For me a lot of it depends on my child. My 6yo kindergartener is very outgoing in general, but wants me to stay at all the parties. Doesn't matter if it's in a public place or at the next door neighbors house--he wants me at the party. So I stay with him. His sister and one of his brothers was the same way at this age and they now barely give me the time of day, so I know that "this, too, will change", so I'm savoring it. My guess is that in another year or two he will want me to leave. If there's a time I can't stay then I would tell him and he'd probably still choose to go to the party, but right now he's in a mama's boy phase, so maybe not.

Other than that, I wouldn't leave him at a pool party yet. Also not at Chuck E Cheese unless they were having the pizza and cake. There are certain public places that I'm not comfortable with someone else watching him, but other places that I am. Just depends. But it's a moot point since he wants me there, anyway.

 

[Hannathy]

I have never stayed nor do I intend to. I would not be happy if adults stayed at a kids party if I had not invited them, I would not have planned any food or accomadations for them. My DS 1rst grade just went to a pool party at a hotel and not one parent stayed no one even offered or asked. Boy I guess if I move to a different part of the country I will be shocked. What do you guys do just invite yourselves in? Most parties around here you drop off at the door and do not even go further than the door way.