Hellobee Boards

I think 6 is a little young for drop off parties, especially since you don’t know the parents. My 5 year old DS was recently invited to a play date by a boy in his class, and his mom asked if I wanted to drop my DS off for a few hours and run errands while they played. I told her I’d prefer to stay. I had not yet met the parents and wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving him there alone, but that’s just me.

I think at 6 it could go either way. I think we did drop off optional for my older daughter at 6—some parents stayed and others didn’t. My younger daughter just turned 6, and her parties this year have been a mix, too.

My DD is 7 and in first grade - we haven't had or attended any drop off parties. But there were no birthday parties during her kindergarten year. So maybe that has slowed the switch to drop off parties? I wouldn't drop her off unless I knew the parents well and I was comfortable with the location.

Pre Covid - in Kinder the parties were mostly drop off optional … we never did it as my oldest liked me/dh to stay and many other parents stayed too. She went to her first drop off party in 1st but that was someone I knew well. She was nervous but it ended up being great for us both!

My daughter is 6 and in first grade. We've had 1 drop off party so far. But it was at a friend's house where I'd dropped her off for playdates already, and we knew several of the other kids and parents. I wouldn't be comfortable dropping off at a brand new house where we didn't know the family well.

This is so interesting to me! My oldest is in kindergarten and all of the parties we have attended the parents have stayed. I use it as an opportunity to try and get to know everyone, even if there are some awkward moments where I just look at my phone.

All of our play dates with school friends have been at parks with the parents. I was planning to invite some of his friends for a playdate at our house over the summer and was going to suggest parents could drop their kids off if they preferred since we have gotten to know these families a bit through the school year.

@JennyLayneAZ: I have the same fear! I got so anxious to see which of DS friends would show up at his party last year. His birthday is at the end of the summer so it can be weird since he is transitioning from one class to the next.