[jetmonkey]

Originally Posted by RareBreed

How old you would your child have to be before you left him/her alone at a birthday party? I don't want to leave mine. I had one left on me (but I didn't even know it until it was time for everyone to leave and her parents were no where to be found). She is 6 or 7 yrs old. Oldest had a party and at the end, as the kids and parents were leaving, the girl hands me a piece of paper with a phone # on it. I call and tell the mom that the party is over, come pick up your kid. Mom begins to yell at me because the party ended alittle earlier than I had marked on the invitation. I tell her that the party is over so come get your kid. Next, the dad calls and yells at me for the same reason. I tell him the same thing, come get your kid. He tells me to have her just wait for them somewhere and he'll come get her. I told him that's unacceptable and that I will stay with her until they arrive. They arrived about 45 minutes later (they live about 5-10 minutes away) and said they were in the middle of watching a movie on TV when I called.

What age do you think it's appropriate to leave a child, if at all, at a party? I'd be worried that an accident would occur at the party and I wasn't there. Maybe if the parents specifically said, you can leave and come back in two hours or something, I "might" go but I'd stay close by for sure.

MDHR: Child Protective Services
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