At what age is it ok to leave your child at a friends place/party?

[pinkandblue]

Hi

At what age is it ok to leave your kids at their friends place or party?

I'm not talking about the parents you are really good friends with.

More like your childs friend from school and you dont know the parents that well.

I'm only asking because my daughter has been invited to a few parties lately and I always go with her, she is only 4 years old. But their are some parents that just drop their kids off and leave.

So when is it ok to leave your kids if you dont know the parents that well?

Poll coming.

Thanks
Natalie

[Grace3]

I'm not sure.

I am interested in the poll result though.

Maybe 7 ???

Grace

[Tabby]

I chose 8 ( or about ) not sure really but it would be
as soon as dd has a good understanding of whats right and wrong and what to do...then we would just drop off but until then I would accompany her.

[~rambox~]

I would say 8 :yes:

[punkbaby]

I have picked 7 as a general figure... sorry it really depends my DD went to a party at the wave pool the other week i didnt like her going alone as she cant swim very well so i took the younger two and gave her her space...(lucky i went they took her to the deep part when the waves were on and didnt think to ask if she was ok)

If its at a house i would say 5 or 6 is fine but in a public place like a park i would say 7 only as i worry bout kids running off etc...same as play centres i think 7 is ok too only that my ds is 4 he would run off or find the front door and come looking for mum , he isnt aware of the whole stranger danger thing etc and i know that some parents dont watch their kids (not everyone but some just wont watch at all!!)

Tricky one but 4 is way to young unless you really know them :)

[jess_live_die]

I'm not sure.

I am interested in the poll result though.

Maybe 7 ???

Grace
i said the same thing

[V8]

Maybe 7 or 8, i don't like the idea of that though, i'd much prefer to be there. But i am pretty sure when we were 5 we had a party and invited the whole grade one class and i don't seem to remember every single kids parent being there, but this is a while ago and in a small town.

[Milliner]

I would say about 8yo.

[MummyCharmzy]

I voted 10, I think thats the EARLIEST I would allow that.

[Wivi]

Wow - this is a hard one. I really don't know what I would do. I grew up in a very small town so my parents pretty much knew everyone and from the time I can remember going to birthday parties I went alone. Most of them were straight after school though and any weekend ones tended to be a family affair anyway.

I can't answer the poll because I just don't know. I really would like to know about the family a bit before I let my child go anywhere with them!

[kiah]

I'm really not sure. I will try to get to know the parents really well at Jayce's school over the next few yrs so when he is older i will have some ideas the kind of people i will be leaving him with.

Atm every party Jayce has been invited to parents have been asked if they want to stay.

We have done the same for his party on the weekend as the children are so young. All parents have been invited and welcome to stay.

[chameleon]

I'd say 7 or over. Even if she was happy to be away from me I don't think I'd like the idea of leaving her! What if the parents weren't trustworthy or something?

But if she wanted me there I'd be more than happy to stay if she was older.

[JATS]

I honestly don't know, it depends on the child.

Bad personal experience with being left with 'trusted' family members, you can't trust anyone with your kids. I wouldn't leave my kids alone with anyone before they can understand what is acceptable behaviour from that person. Some kids may comprehend that earlier than others, I can't see there being any set age for it.:no:

[tally]

I voted 11, I once let my then 9yrold got to someones house that I did not know. This mother then allowed my then 9yr old to come home on his own even tho she was advised we wouldnt be there and the time we would arrive home.

So personally I wouldnt allow my children to go anywhere with anyone that I didnt know. You just cant trust others to do as you would.

[MCNmummyof2]

I wouldnt leave them with anyone at all that I didnt know, no matter how old they are. They can either go to the party with mum, or not go, or let me get to know the parents a bit first!

[oleander]

If it's a party for a couple of hours then somewhere between 8 and 10 years old sounds ok. Depends on whether I've met the parents before and whether she seems comfortable at that age. I would never just drop off and leave:no: I'd go in and drop her off.

[~mia&ryan~]

I wouldnt leave them with anyone at all that I didnt know, no matter how old they are. They can either go to the party with mum, or not go, or let me get to know the parents a bit first!
My thoughts exactly..:yes:

[Melo]

About 8 :yes:

[mum2elouise]

***

[kids]

I dont know,. My dd is 5 (almost 6) and I wouldnt leave her yet. I also wouldnt expect others to leave their kids with me at a party yet...........