to think that 4 is too young to be left at a party alone?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

First school party of this academic year.

DS1 has just started reception so it was the child's 5th birthday. All the other children there were 4. It was at big soft play centre.

Almost half of the children were left there alone.

One little girl had a wee accident as she didn't want to ask to go to the toilet and her Mum hadn't shown here where they were before she left.

I spotted another boy holding his genital area and looking uncomfortable - he needed the toilet aswell so I took him. He couldn't even get his trousers down by himself.

A third child had a nasty bump with another child (who wasn't part of the party) and was inconsoleable for about 15 minutes (his parents hadn't left a contact number).

AIBU to think that 4 is too young to be left alone at this sort of party, (especially without leaving a contact number and checking that your child can get to and go to the toilet if they're unlikely to ask anyone else)

No, not too young.

I would leave DS (just 5, he has his 5th party on sat eeek!!) but I would make sure he knew where loos were etc and would only leave him if he was comfortable at being left iyswim

At the first party when he was in reception (about now a yr ago) I did leave him but he had his little gang of friends so was happy for me to go...

If they go to school they should be perfectly capable. I hate the big, whole class parties-if they go to a party of a friend then it is much more intimate and easier to cope. If I had a whole class party I definitely wouldn't want all the parents taking up space! I had them in the house when they were 5 yrs and encouraged the parents to go.

i think it is too young personally, but then my four year old is not that independent and quite clingy at times.
play gyms contain all kinds of potential hazards so if i would just about consider leaving in a front room i wouldn't consider leaving in a play gym.

particularly if there were other (non party people - members of teh public )- in the playgym too

4 isn't too young, it's perfectly normal.

But a contact number should always be left.

At my DDs 3rd birthday party all the children were left.

But, there were only six of them, it was at my house and and I had 4 other adults (DH and GPs) to help out.

I think a big party, especially at a soft play centre, would be pushing it at 4yrs old. I'm 40 and find them very scary/noisy places.

Depends.

I've left DD a couple of times BUT only when I've made very sure that one of her friends parents knows I've gone and has agreed to watch her and also that DD knows exactly who is responsible while I'm gone and who she has to go to if she needs any help. Equally I've taken responsibility for children in these situations. I wouldn't leave her yet in other circumstances though.

'It is the host's responsibility to only invite the number of people (s)he can safely look after.'

I think that this says it all. If you have a whole class in a hall then it is difficult to look after them all and probably it is best to stay, but if you have a reasonable number to cope with then a 4 yr old can easily be left.