Two kids, both were going to mostly drop off parties by the age of four. Not a big deal to host, just make sure there are several adults there to help out (that's what I did anyway). If you want parents to stay, specify that on the invitation but it will probably lead to a smaller turn out.

Anonymous wrote:Annoying. Part of the fun of birthday parties is talking/meeting/getting to know the parents of my kids friends. It's not free babysitting. If you want that, suggest playdates. Those can be drop off.

+100 Great time to meet other parents.

Anonymous wrote:This is what's wrong with children today. Parents feeling that it's perfectly ok to "drop off" their 3 or 4 year old, to serve the parents convienence! That is APPALLING! And quite UNSAFE! Bless these children, because their "parents" sure aren't "parenting" them

You are kidding, right? You know that today's parents are way more overprotective than the last several generations, right?

OP ask a few friend parents to stay.

Anonymous wrote:DS just turned 5 and we've been to countless parties, hosted many, and no parties have been drop off. What are these 4 yo drop off parties? Many of his friends have older siblings, but it still hasn't been a problem.

There is a point in every community in which it just starts. Usually someone just starts it and then people follow. It is not a magic number, such as at 4 years 3 months I will be dropping off. But, 4-5 is usually when it starts. I think most of our four year old parties were drop off optional, so about half the parents stayed and half left.

Obviously, this is an odd year in which some parents do drop offs and some do not. Those of us who have, whether it is because they have an older child or more children, know that there are lots of types of parties in which four year olds can be dropped off. That is the age in which many hosts expect the parents to leave. If you prefer that parents are there, however, say it explicitely. None of these passive-aggressive hints like "snacks for adults will be provided." That is an interesting fact, but does not actually say what you want to convey. And, please, by next year, figure out how to have a party that does not require parents to stay. Have extra parents or make it smaller. Unless it is some special type of party that obviously requires extra supervision (like a pool party), it becomes your responsibility to care fo the kids when you invite them.

DS just turned 5 and we've been to countless parties, hosted many, and no parties have been drop off. What are these 4 yo drop off parties? Many of his friends have older siblings, but it still hasn't been a problem.

This is what's wrong with children today. Parents feeling that it's perfectly ok to "drop off" their 3 or 4 year old, to serve the parents convienence! That is APPALLING! And quite UNSAFE! Bless these children, because their "parents" sure aren't "parenting" them

When I was a teenager, I had a party planning business for little kids' parties. A couple friends and I would come and help the parents with the party. Maybe you should hire a babysitter or two, identify which ones don't have parents there, and have them keep an eye on them.

If you do drop off, make sure you are leaving a phone number with the host. At my friend's son's roller skating party, she had some parents just drop their kids off and not even mention that they were leaving...Which is a whole other issue. These were new school friends and she wasn't familiar with the parents. Of course, one of those kids fell and got hurt pretty badly (ended up with a sprained wrist). We had no way to get a hold of the parents. So I (a complete stranger to this kid) spent the whole party icing this boy's wrist and trying to keep him calm.

Anonymous wrote:"Please plan to stay with your child." Some people will roll their eyes, but so what?

+1

I was shocked when we had a party for my 5 year old and a mother dropped off her two children... ages 5 and 3. I WAS SHOCKED.

Anonymous wrote:"Please plan to stay with your child." Some people will roll their eyes, but so what?

+1

I was shocked when we had a party for my 5 year old and a mother dropped off her two children... ages 5 and 3. I WAS SHOCKED.

We recently had a birthday party for 4 year old DS and not one parent dropped off. The kids can all go to the bathroom and eat cake on their own, but due to the excitement of the party, a few kids got very emotional about silly things and started crying at different points. I would not have wanted to deal with that on my own. Other kids behaved beautifully, and drop off would have been fine.

Anonymous wrote:"Please plan to stay with your child." Some people will roll their eyes, but so what?

+1. Be very clear

I love the parents of multiple children saying they only do drop offs because they essentially had more children than they could handle and want the free babysitting. Please don't try to drop off your supposedly independent 3 year old. Just decline the invitation if you had more children than you can handle!