OT - 4yo Birthday Party, stay or leave?

[Rubbertops]

My DD4 got invited to a birthday party at a bowling alley (bit young I thought, but whatever).

Do I drop her there and leave? Or do I stick around? The Mom said I can drop her, but I am not sure...

 

[LindaM]

I would stay, especially if it's at a public place....can 4 year olds even pick up a bowling ball? What ever happened to Chuck E Cheese.

 

[pixiepower1971]

My DDs went bowling at that age. There are very light balls for them and they can put bumpers up in the alley for "bumper bowl". Even if the bumpers aren't up the kids always liked it at that age. My girls still love to go bowling with friends and they are almost 9 and 11.

If you are comfortable with the alley and the mom, I would leave her. If not, stay, sit back and observe. She will have a great time!

 

[ilovediznee]

If your child has bowled before and you know the parents or a parent of another child, then I would go. If not, I would stay, but stay a bit back so your child thinks they are with the group and won't keep running to you!

 

[KerriMc]

We just had my dd's 6th b.day at our local bowling alley. It is only five pin, so they are the small bowling balls. The kids had a great time. They were all five or six years of age. She had been to a party twice before at the same bowling alley and decided she'd like to have it there too. We had the bumper lane and one without. The bumpers really help them!!! One mom stayed and the rest left. The mom who stayed just had a book and sat off to the side and got to finish her novel. She said it was nice to have an hour and a half to sit and read!!

DD was just at another party there for a friend who came to hers (I think everyone will be bowling this year ) and I left her there. I trusted the parents enough to feel comfortable putting her in their care. If I didn't know someone well though, I may just hang out like the mom from our party did.

Do what you feel comfortable with. At four, I'd be hesitant to leave her with others unless you know them really well. I worry about public bathrooms, etc. We stayed at a Party play place that dd went to for that reason (being 4 and just too many people 'hanging' around).

 

[SandraC]

DS started bowling when we could stand....heeheehee.

Both my kids had their bday parties in a bowling alley this year.

DS7 party, two moms stayed.

DD13, no parents stayed.

I would stay with my 4 yo for any party. The extra hands help with emergencies and potty runs.

S

 

[drag n' fly]

We 5 pin bowl all the time and our youngest is 4. I would ask the Mom if she would like some help and then that would give you a reason to stick around without looking like your hovering. If she does not require help let her know you would love to stay and watch the kids! I have been to so many bowling parties I swear they know us on a first name basis and I stayed when the two older kids had playschool bowling parties.

 

[F4disneyfan]

For our sons 4th we did the same thing and the parents just dropped the kids off and left them and came back for them later.

 

[maryliz]

I think it depends on your child (ie. does she tend to "wander" over to the video games, etc), how big the place is, how many kids are there and how many adults are running the party. We just hosted bowling parties for DS7 and DD10. None of the parents stayed. We had a few boys at the younger party that kept wandering away from the alleys. Luckily, it's a very small place and there was only one other group there at the time of the party, so DH and I were able to keep herding them back to where they were supposed to be.

I agree with Sandra ... ask if you can help out. If there are several adults there already so they don't need you, then go and enjoy that hour away.

 

[mickeywho?]

If you are expecting to stay - be there to help - or stay out of the way if you aren't needed. (We bring grandparents and aunts when we have a party for one of our kids in a public place like that) and don't expect to be fed or catered too. Leave it up to your best judgement and what your child expects you to do. My 5 year old tells me to leave sometimes and other times asks me to stay for a while.
We had a party when my little guy was 4 at a McDonalds and the moms all went far enough away to chat and have a meal while we had the party in our space. Parents were comfortable - kids were happy - and we didn't have to worry about taking care of the parents along with the kids.