Birthday party at public playground: drop off?

[Anonymous]

7-year-old DS is invited to a birthday party at a public playground. It's one of those parties where the hosts stake out a picnic table or two and the kids run around and play. The only other playground parties he's been invited to are ones where our families are friends so the adults hang out and talk while the kids play. Normally I'd drop him off at a birthday party but I'm feeling a little uneasy about the level of adult supervision possible in such an open space with so many different areas, not all of which are in a direct line of vision from the picnic tables. Am I being a helicopter? What do you all do as far as dropoff with parties in open public spaces?

[Anonymous]

I'd stay.

[Anonymous]

Stay. I would for this kind of party.

[Anonymous]

I'd stay. I don't think that a few adults can keep track of so many kids at once.

[Anonymous]

If my kid was not a wanderer and had been to the park before I'd drop off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay. I don't think that a few adults can keep track of so many kids at once.

Teachers/aides manage to do so every school day.

[Anonymous]

I would stay. Definitely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay. I don't think that a few adults can keep track of so many kids at once.

Teachers/aides manage to do so every school day.

Yeah in an enclosed room or an enclosed playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay. I don't think that a few adults can keep track of so many kids at once.

Teachers/aides manage to do so every school day.

Yeah in an enclosed room or an enclosed playground.

There are school playgrounds that are not enclosed. And what difference does that make in this case? The kid is 7, not 3. I highly doubt he's going to dart into the street if the playground isn't fenced in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd stay. I don't think that a few adults can keep track of so many kids at once.

Teachers/aides manage to do so every school day.

b

Yep, & camp counselors do it all summer (sometimes even at public parks).

[Anonymous]

Are you sure they want/expect you to drop off?

[Anonymous]

Why not just email and ask? You can make it clear that you're fine with doing either, just clarifying the expectations. I'd have no problem if one of our invited families did this (and no problem if they wanted to stay since there aren't space constraints or per person costs).

[Anonymous]

yes, camp counselors and teachers do it all the time, BUT.... their one and only job is to watch for the kids. they have rules, the kids know, trust, and listen to their teachers/counselors and the counselors aren't setting-up food, cake, etc.

I'd call/email but I'd also get a sense for how many kuds, how many adukts there willbe, etc the day of the party.

[Anonymous]

I personally would see how it goes. I have a 7yo and so far this year half or more of the parents seem to stick around. I am social and like to get to know other families. I do not stay at obvious drop off party venues geared towards kids only and parents stand outside of party room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure they want/expect you to drop off?

+1

I'd stay. Do as you would at the parties where you're already friends with the parents. Watch the kids a little, hang out a little and be friendly. You might make some new friends.