https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:48:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150792 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 06:39:46 +0000 travelgirl1 2150792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was a kid, all parties were drop off, from four onwards at least, and they were fun! I think though, English houses are much smaller than American ones, there just isn't room for kids + parents + siblings. I would be okay with drop off now if parents are close friends (2.5) but I think 4 if it's at a school friend's house whose parents I don't really know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150745 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 00:11:06 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2150745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sapphire: same here. I remember my third birthday party and we have lots of home videos from that day. Lot of kids...not a lot of parents!</p> <p>If you know the parents, I don't get why dropping off would be an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150742 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 00:03:23 +0000 sarac 2150742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Yeah, that ratio of parents to children would not make me comfortable either. I still really like the idea, but I'd limit it to way fewer kids. 5, max. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150735 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:50:32 +0000 HLK208 2150735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably now at 6 for a close friend (as long as I know the parents and feel comfortable). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150727 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:15:44 +0000 sapphire 2150727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't remember going to any parties as a kid where my parents stayed at the party. I was of course without allergies or issues. But I do think things have changed... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150725 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:09:48 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2150725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If it was a close frind, I'd feel comfortable dropping her off now and she's 3 next month. I'm not really sure what there is for me to be worried about? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150650 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 20:41:20 +0000 Freckles 2150650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>5/6. Though I know some parents think 5 is too young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150571 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:40:25 +0000 woodentulip 2150571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Wow. A camp out. That is outside the norm for us, and would be outside my comfort zone, for sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150570 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:39:53 +0000 woodentulip 2150570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around our area most 4-5 year old parties became drop off. At venues, these are smaller spaces that are rented out for one party, and potential for kids to travel outside of the party zone is practically zero. Our older daughter is 5 and we haven't stayed at a party for her in about a year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150568 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:34:37 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2150568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>5/6 seems like a reasonable drop off age. That's when more school friends are invited versus family and family friends. I still remember my brother's drop off parties at that age and it wasn't all that chaotic. My parents usually kept the invited guest list to under a dozen kids and there were at least three of us aattending to all the kids- both parents at by then a babysitting age teen. At his 8th birthday sleepover one of the kids double checked the hot dogs with me. The child knew to ask if the hot dog was pork before taking a bite. I sometimes find parents are more distracted by having to entertain other adults than they are with the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150538 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:03:08 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2150538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: 10 kids, boys and girls, 2 adults who have 2 other little children aged 2 and newborn. </p> <p>I've never seen a 5 year old slumber party camp out before. I would say it is slightly outside the spectrum of normal... but maybe not to others. I'm not opposed in principle, but our daughter won't be attending for the reasons I mentioned above (allergies and unable to sleep alone all night). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150476 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:11:29 +0000 sarac 2150476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Were they just camping in their backyard? Was it some huge number of children? I'm having a little trouble understanding the issue with it. I wouldn't hesitate to throw my (almost) four year old a back yard camp out slumber party with three or four friends. We'd just camp out there with them in a big tent. </p> <p>Actually, that sounds fun. Now I want to do it for her next birthday.</p> <p>ETA: wow, I see that you said 10. That's kind of a lot. But still, if there were two capable adults, I wouldn't worry about it too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150247 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 14:39:38 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2150247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: charlie's 5th birthday party was also drop-off optional because space was limited, and several parents did drop off! in general i think maybe i am more on the free-range side when it comes to things like this! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150197 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 14:14:59 +0000 mrs. wagon 2150197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wagon Jr. has already been to a couple of drop-off parties! Parents were welcome to stay but we chose to drop off as did most parents. Both were in public places with staff (a pottery painting place) and it was great to be able to run some errands! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150190 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 14:11:28 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2150190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: my daughter has allergies resulting in anaphylaxis. But 10 5 year olds for a sleep over seems like a lot to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150188 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 14:10:00 +0000 PawPrints 2150188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I attended my first sleepover birthday party when I was six! Though it was just three girls. I'm a long way from these decisions but I guess I would hope I'd be willing to grant my kids that much space/independence by that age. Barring medical issues or major allergies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150177 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 14:06:00 +0000 Truth Bombs 2150177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be much less comfortable with a drop off party at a venue than at someone's house. I would worry it would be too much for the parents to make sure no kids go wandering off, that's not really a problem at home. My daughter is only 2.5 but we already have "sleep overs" where she will stay at a friend's house or a friend will stay at her house allowing the other parents to have a big night out and not have to wake up bright and early with their LO. We have three families with whom we are close enough that we do this pretty regularly to give each other a break. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150146 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:51:48 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2150146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm so glad your kids are ahead of mine in ages, so i can just follow along on what i need to expect in the future! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150093 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:30:19 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2150093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: the car party is small, but the zoo party is big. we'd just stay at the zoo with olive so we'd be close by, but wouldn't attend the party.</p> <p>the invitation says drop-off party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150091 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:29:34 +0000 Andrea 2150091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It started at 4 around here. People have no problem with it and the kids all go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150073 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:19:15 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2150073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our almost 5 year old got invited to a 5 year old boy's drop off and camp out slumber birthday party. I just can't imagine. How will all those five year olds get their needs met for 12 hours? Besides, my daughter comes to sleep with us halfway through the night most nights.</p> <p>I found the invite quite outside the spectrum of typical. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150061 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:14:22 +0000 Mamaof2 2150061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: also are these small parties? Like 5-6 kids? I cant imagine 2 parents wrangling 20 kids at the zoo alone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150056 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:13:22 +0000 looch 2150056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: Yeah, I was wondering that as well!</p> <p>I dunno, I am actually more concerned about drop off parties at venues, especially since they seem not to stay in the same room (at the bounce places, they move from room to room) and I'd be worried that they're not diligently counting up all the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150055 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:12:42 +0000 Adira 2150055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never!!</p> <p>Not really, but this is hard for me to think about, especially given Xander's severe milk allergy. Assuming he doesn't grow out of it, I wouldn't feel comfortable dropping him off anywhere until I felt confident that he knew what he could/couldn't have and how to use his EpiPen OR I felt VERY comfortable with the adult that was going to be there to ensure he didn't eat anything he couldn't have.</p> <p>6 sounds like a reasonable age to me in general... but I still don't want to think about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150052 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:11:38 +0000 Mamaof2 2150052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The 6 yr old parties we have been to have not been drop off - not sure when that will happen around here - my DS is pretty reserved though and not sure if he would go to one.</p> <p>@Mrs. Bee: how does that work - did the invite say "no parents" or "drop off only" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-age-will-you-let-your-lo-do-drop-off-parties#post-2150047 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 13:09:40 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2150047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Charlie received two 6th birthday party invitations today for drop-off parties. One is at a car-racing place and the other is at the zoo.</p> <p>I am fine with drop-off parties at venues. In New York where space is a premium, it seems that many parties from now on will be drop-off!</p> <p>What age would you be ok with a drop off party at a venue? (I'd feel differently if it were in someone's home that I didn't know.) </p>