4-Year Old Birthday Party

YES STAY! they would love an extra pair of eyes! lol I know when i have birthday parties i really enjoy having the parent stay not only to help watch the kids but its a chance to talk to another adult....

I am always floored when people think it's OK to just drop off a 4 or 5 year old at a party. You are not only welcome but you are expected to stay with her at that age, especially since you don't know them. I always loved parties at that age group because they are really the only chance I had to meet my kids' playmates and their parents.

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I am always floored when people think it's OK to just drop off a 4 or 5 year old at a party. You are not only welcome but you are expected to stay with her at that age, especially since you don't know them. I always loved parties at that age group because they are really the only chance I had to meet my kids' playmates and their parents.

Yes at 4 it is perfectly fine to stay. I used to bring a book or magazine along to the parties I was staying at, park myself in the corner somewhere and catch up on my reading!!

We had a birthday party at PIU for my 4 year old twins and YES you should stay. Bumps and slips happen on those inflatables, plus it can get hectic and loud. You'd hate for your daughter to get knocked down or scared and you're not there to comfort her.

Go ahead and stay. That's perfectly fine. If most of the kids are 4 I'm sure a lot of the parents will be staying.

I would plan to go and stay. I think 4 is a little young to be dropping off, and I don't think anyone expects that (i.e. the host). The only thing I would suggest is not bringing any siblings. I 'personally' think it's kind of rude when people bring siblings to a birthday party they weren't invited to. Especially, when there is a headcount charge - per person charge. Oh, and I don't usually plan to eat at my kids' parties - unless it's a good friend and at their house type of thing. I usually eat something before I go, and save the pizza and/or cake for the kids. I should mention I have an 8 year old, and the first drop off we ever received was at age 6 a couple of his classmates were dropped off, which was perfectly fine by us. I would say age 5-ish is the minimum for drop offs - depends on how dependant your child is - wiping own bum, potential potty accidents, clingy to mom, etc. and how well you know the host.

There's no extra cost to the host for adults in attendance so you should definitely stay. Wear nicer-looking comfortable clothes and bring a ponytail holder and socks for yourself in case your daughter wants you to participate. It's quite a workout for the parents too! You'd be surprised how many 4yr olds are thrilled to have an adult participating with them as many of them have trouble navigating the steeper climbing rungs for the slides... especially if it's PumpItUp and not PumpItUp JR. Make sure you've snacked beforehand and bring water for both of you. Have an energy bar of some sort in your purse so you can nosh while the kiddos are enjoying their pizza (or in the car on the way home). Enjoy!!!

My daughter's 5th party was there and all of the parents stayed, which I appreciated!

You should stay. I don't think people expect you to drop off until your kids are at least in 1st grade.

You should stay! You are her mom and you should always "go with your gut". If you are uncomfortable leaving her, then don't. It does not matter where the party is, if you are not comfortable leaving then don't. My daughter is 6yrs old and I have never left her at a party alone. I always stay and it has never been a problem. In fact it has been a great solution, because of all the parties my daughter attended, it gave me an opportunity to get to know many other moms. Now we have our own play group that still meets every month and we are all thankful to have each other. It is not rude to stay and at this age it is very much expected. Just remember, your child is most important to you and doing what you feel most comfortable with is always the best solution.

I think most people assume a parent will stay for a kid this age. I've noticed that when the kids get to about 6 years old, invitations will start to say "drop-off" party. Usually, other parents are appalled if someone drops off a child of this age at a party. So, you should feel very comfortable staying, and it will give you a chance to get to chat with some of the other parents from her preschool. Have fun!

I don't think any parent would be surprised if you stay. Pump It Up was a favorite with my kids (they are too old now :(). Enjoy! It's a lot of fun!

Ummmmm....STAY! Better safe than sorry these days. She is only 4, there's no question in my mind that I would stay.

Definitely ok to stay. "Drop off" partys (I think are more for the six and up age group) However, people do sort of consider the pizza and drinks are for the kids primarily. They (the children) usually drink and eat first and parents get what's left over...sometimes pizza is ordered for the parents to have also. I have done that, but if in doubt, let the little ones all get served first and then have a piece if you want. I've been to so many parties already and had them for my 4 and 7 yr old girls..You definitely want to stay at Pump it up to help your little one have a good time....also it gives you a chance to chat with other moms, see the other kids, and you can even play on the equipment there too! Your daughter will love that mom slides or climbs with them also! (at least mine did)

E.,

Yes, it is TOTALLY okay to stay. Please don't worry about it. There will be other parents staying too. Hope she has fun.

I would plan to stay we always did when our daughters were young. And it didn't matter if we knew the parents or not. And I anticipated that parents would also stay when my children had their parties at that age.

I agree this is the time when you catch up with parents and hear what is going on at preschool. I always enjoyed that opportunity also.

Good luck.

Hello E., I have to be honest and say STAY. With things the way they are to day you donot want anything to happen and you not be there.
You don't have to eat the food planned for the party. I have taken a book and read, while ordering something so that I am not wasting space of a customer when its at a place besides the home or I have sat in the car to read or do paperwork in the car.
I have a daughter that always expects the parents to stay and visit in a area that she sets apart for that purpose so the child can see the parent, while the children do party things.
The thing I find distasteful is when parents bring several siblings as extras to the party with out first asking. It is rude.

It's assumed that you'll stay. All parents have stayed at all of my son's (5 1/2) birthday parties - even the ones at kids' houses. I had two parties last weekend for both of my kids, at the same time, 1 mile apart. I decided that I'd drop off my son and go with my daugther (3) to her party for an hour and then come back and pick up my son. I made sure to talk to the mother at my son's party to see if the community center room was closed off, not too open and if she'd be able to keep an eye out for him. I was comfortable with that b/c I knew all of the kids/parents at the party since it was my son's preschool.

ABSOLUTELY it's OK to stay.
I am SURE the parents will be thrilled if you want to stay.
I never left my kids at a party until they were 8 or 9 AND I knew the parents.
LBC

It should be okay to stay, but why don't you ask this of the parents of the birthday girl.

I have been to many parties in that age range and no parent ever just dropped their child off. For me personally, if the invite doesn't say please drop your child off at such and such time, I'm going to stay especially if it is a public location. I have even been to parties for 10 year olds and the parents stayed.

So, I definitely think it is OK for you to stay.

Nobody watches our kids like moms........stay! Whether any other parents are there or not, you should stay........why put yourself through the worry if sh'es OK

Have fun!

~N. :o)

I think anytime your child is concerned and you do not know the parents, it is within your right to stay. If you need to pay to participate in lunch or activities then that is what you will need to do. Besides, if this is her first party outside of family your daughter may feel more comfortable with you sticking around. The other parents should understand. Good luck and have fun.

I would STAY! Last weekend I had my son's 4th B-Day party and one of the parents just left his kid at my house without knowing me... I didn't even know the kid, he was from my son's preschool but still... My invite did not state that it was a drop off party. Never leave your children with people you don't know!

Definitely stay! I can't imagine the parent really want to have to watch a party full of 4 year olds. I always expect a parent to accompany their child, even at my daughter's upcoming 6th birthday party.

definitely stay! I didn't leave my boys until they were in first or second grade and then it was only if I knew the parents. You won't be the only parent there.

Yes, you should absolutely stay! We've been to several Pump It Up parties for kids up through at least 6 so far, and all the parents stayed. In fact, be sure to keep your eye on your child the whole time. There's only one or maybe two PIU attendants in the room with the kids, and they can't possibly keep all the kids from bouncing onto each other. For example, last time we were there a couple kids came down the giant slide onto a couple others & it wasn't pretty.

And even for a 4 year old party at a house, you should stay. We've been to lots of preschool classmate parties over the past few years at various places. The invite only says your child so that just she, not any possible siblings, will come. But a parent is absolutely implied. I'm planning to go with my daughter to parties until the invitation explicitly says "drop off." (And even then, I'll need to feel comfortable leaving her.)

Hope that helps, and have fun!

Absolutely, you should stay! Since she is only 4, you don't know the parents well, and Pump it Up can be a loud, chaotic place with many kids running around, it is more than reasonable that you would want to stay and watch from the sidelines. I would think that many other parents also would stay, even if they know the family well. I've taken my young kids to PIU for parties and done just this, and there were many other parents doing the same. If you're concerned about looking like an overly protective parent, you can tell the hosts that you just want to be sure your daughter feels comfortable in the setting.

I would stay! Especially since you do not know the parents.