Leaving child unattended at party

[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.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

The child was not left unattended. You had a party with other children and adults I'm sure. The parents just sound lazy/uninvolved.

 

[hotmomma]

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.

I left my daughter at a friend's party when she was 9 (4th grade)

 

[hotmomma]

A lot of times the parents just tell you to come back in 2 hours. I don't see anything wrong with it. I always leave my number and my daughter knows all the phone numbers

 

[hollywoman]

I have never left my child at a party...when he turned 6, parents dropped their kids at the curb and left, didn't even come in. My DH and I were in shock! As other b-day partys, some parents stay and socialized other just leave and come back 2 hrs later. Last year son turned 9, we had 16 kids, all the parents dropped and came back, BUT I stood in the driveway and got there name, p# and any food allergies. Some parties (bowling) the parents hosting were drinking and had brought other kids with them. I always take mine, stay with them and bring them home.

 

[Bronwyn]

I know I had my first slumber party when I was 10.

 

[RareBreed]

The child was not left unattended. You had a party with other children and adults I'm sure. The parents just lsound azy/uninvolved.

I don't mind that they left. I just would have liked them to have told me that they were leaving. If something would have happened where she could not tell me that the phone # was in her pocket, I'd be screwed as to how to get ahold of her parents.

 

[Roberta]

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.

Staying at a children's birthday party with you child??

I never heard of such crazy sheit. It is a CHILDRENS BIRTHDAY PARTY FCS.
Oh the NEW way of parenting. Some are neglectful, others are over protective. Maybe this shows my age. But this is just silly.

So now when you have a B/D party for your child you have to account for food and party favors for all the children's parents and siblings? That is just crazy.

 

[Sweet 16]

I think it is rude and extremely neglectful to not at least ask the host if it's okay before you leave, especially if the party is in a public place like Chuck E. Cheese. I had a parent do that to me once and the kid had an asthma attack! Fortunately, it was not severe but he didn't have his inhaler with him. She didn't seem too concerned when she got back but I was terrified and I let her know it! Parents today are too willing to just "dump" their kids off and let someone else worry about them.

That said, I would not leave a toddler or preschooler at a party in a public place.

 

[jetmonkey]

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
your welcome

 

[RareBreed]

Staying at a children's birthday party with you child??

I never heard of such crazy sheit. It is a CHILDRENS BIRTHDAY PARTY FCS.
Oh the NEW way of parenting. Some are neglectful, others are over protective. Maybe this shows my age. But this is just silly.

So now when you have a B/D party for your child you have to account for food and party favors for all the children's parents and siblings? That is just crazy.

Don't know your age but you can't be older than my mom (70) who did stay with me at parties unless told otherwise. I am her responsibility, not the responsibility of another parent unless said parent takes it upon themselves. I never expect to eat at a child's party nor do I expect they give my younger son anything.

 

[vraiblonde]

Staying at a children's birthday party with you child??

I never heard of such crazy sheit.

Me either. When I was a kid, I went to the party and my Mom picked me up afterward. So did all the other Moms. Same with my kids, both parties they were going to and parties we hosted.

But I didn't have any kids in my class who were sickly and required constant medical attention, either. And none of my kids had friends like that. There was one little girl with all kinds of stupid crap that her overprotective Mommy wanted to make sure I knew about. This kid was never invited back.

 

[vraiblonde]

Don't know your age but you can't be older than my mom (70) who did stay with me at parties unless told otherwise.

This is where you get it from.

 

[RareBreed]

This is where you get it from.

All I am saying is that I would have liked to have known that the parents left. I don't mind them leaving. Trust me, I get bored at these parties but nowadays, the parents are expected to stay. In 5 yrs of party-going, I've never been told that I could leave and come back later.

 

[bresamil]

All I am saying is that I would have liked to have known that the parents left. I don't mind them leaving. Trust me, I get bored at these parties but nowadays, the parents are expected to stay. In 5 yrs of party-going, I've never been told that I could leave and come back later.

I think this is primarily because the hosting parents don't want to be accused of misconduct or want the liability if the child is injured. A lot has to do with trusting the host parents as well.

 

[jaie]

For my daughters 6th bday party I told the parents they could go or stay. Most went a few stayed. There was this one that stayed because she called her husband and he told her she needed to stay. This women would not let that child alone. She got on my nerves. I rather the parents not be there.

 

[RareBreed]

I think this is primarily because the hosting parents don't want to be accused of misconduct or want the liability if the child is injured. A lot has to do with trusting the host parents as well.

I prefer the parents stay because then it's up to them, not me, to get control over their kid if they act up.

 

[godsbutterfly]

I think this is primarily because the hosting parents don't want to be accused of misconduct or want the liability if the child is injured. A lot has to do with trusting the host parents as well.

You are exactly right. I knew my kids' friends and their parents and it wasn't a problem for drop offs but if ever I had called one of them and they pitched a fit because they were watching a movie and didn't want to come and get their own child I would have had a real problem with that - not because I resented keeping their child longer but because they should care more than that. It's one thing to have somebody say "We thought it was over later and we are about 45 minutes away. We'll be there just as soon as we can." and for them to throw a fit and live only 10 minutes away but not show up for 45!

 

[Tina2001aniT]

I prefer the parents stay because then it's up to them, not me, to get control over their kid if they act up.

I would much rather be the one to get control of their kid if they act up. Have you seen the way kids interact with their parents these days???

 

[vraiblonde]

This women would not let that child alone. She got on my nerves. I rather the parents not be there.

Me, too. When they were very small, sure, Mommies and Daddies were welcome. At that age, we tended to have big cookouts with all kinds of friends there. But when they get to be about 6 or so and you're having "children's* parties, I prefer Mommy and Dad drop them off and go away.