My 4yo daughter has made a new friend at preschool and the mom emailed me asking if my daughter would like to come over for a play date tomorrow morning. The friend's mom and I have chatted a little during pick up and they all seem very nice but I don't know much about them.

So here's a two part question:

1) At what age would you be okay sending your child to a friend's house for a play date alone when it's a school friend and you don't know the parents too well (I've only met the mom - she seems really nice and her daughter is a sweetheart)?

2) When people invite your child over for a play date and don't specify, do you think they are expecting you to stay as well or think of it as a drop-off/pick-up situation?