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DS is 6, and we've done quite a few drop off play-dates (and we've hosted many as well). Mostly friends from preschool (and now kindergarten) and in the neighborhood. Generally all parents I knew fairly well. First time was probably around 3/4? But more frequent since kindergarten. We've also just recently done a few drop-off birthday parties (mostly when they're at kid's homes), but most are still parents staying. And I have one friend who takes my 3 year-old fairly often, but that's mostly a childcare trade (I watch her boys sometimes as well, and I'm also her son's preschool teacher), so it's less about the kids and more about us

Drop off playdates and birthday parties sneak up on you kinda like the ending of breastfeeding, it happens very fast and when it happens it is a complete shock lol.

I didn't know drop off playdates and parties were a thing until we were invited to a home party, all these moms are just leaving! It was in pre-k. I think I started my first drop off at late pre-k, second semester (5+ yo), at a gym party. I was solo-parenting and had to run a few errands to keep my head above water that weekend. So I talked to DS extensively that I will come back as soon as I am done. He understands and he was fine and that was that. Then I mostly drop off ever since lol

In kindergarten DS invited a friend over for playdate (also second semester, early 6 yo). As I was worried if I needed to prep for entertaining the parent, the father came and swiftly drop off his kid without saying anything as if we were a daycare lol. There I know that it is a thing. I've been dropping off or allowing other family to pick up after school since beginning of first grade. (of course, we have met these people before and we know that they are not psychos). Thank God for drop offs or it'd be miserable to have to do small talks with every single parent, especially the ones that you don't click with!

my oldest is 7 and still a little clingy - she went to her first official drop-off party this year, I think. in kindergarten it seemed kind of in between . . . like we put on her 6th invitation drop off or stay, whatever you like - and got slightly more drop-offs than stays. And similar at most of the parties we went to. This year in 1st, drop-off seems to be the norm. Only one parent stayed at her 7th party and she's a good friend of mine anyway.

a lot of the play dates we do are social for me too, or for siblings, so we may all go or may just meet up outside at the school playground. but we've hosted a drop off at our house. again I think it's the norm now in 1st.

My oldest is 4.5 and we haven't done any drop-off playdates or parties yet! I do know one party she is invited to in March is drop off so that will be her first. It's drop off because it's a cooking class in a small room. Most of the 5 year old parties parents still stay, but I can see that changing next year. I don't really get drop off playdates at this point, though! I love doing playdates because I get to chat with the other moms! They are either my friends or, if it's a friend my daughter made at school, I like to get to know them. I can see that making more sense when she is 7+.

@Foodnerd81: Both of the parties we've had (the one before and the one coming up) stated "drop off party" in the invitation. Although the one that's coming up actually said "this is a drop off party, but a parent can stay if your child isn't comfortable being dropped off".

This just started this year for me with my Kindergartener... he got asked to a playdate first off the bus (EEK!) and then we invited some to our house after school too.... The parties have started with the drop-offs but I've attended so far.... the most recent did an evite and it said to specify kid and/or adult - so I think they got a sense that way how many drop offs there would be.