to bugger off from party

[moogster1a]

ok. I'm very new to this kiddie party thing.
DS has been invited to a 3rd b'day party tomorrow.It's on for 3 1/2 hours. All the kids are between 3 and 8 years old. Am i expected to stay for the duration or just until the amusement of the carnage palls and bugger off? or indeed just drop DS and run off till the end? The invite didn't give any clues. It's at the person's house and 12 kids have been invited.
y

YABU... if your child is onlly three. It's too small to leave unless with elatives or close friends...and I assume it isn't as you're not sure what's expected of you.

If your DS is 5 or 6 and comfortable to be left then thats different...but personally I wouldn't leave a tiny alonoe when their were kids of eight there too.

Tomorrow? Not much notice is it? Personally, I would phone and ask if I could stay. They will probably say "Yes, of course you may." 3 is too young to stay under those circumstances, without being accompanied by you or someone you know very well and trust.

Or else decline the invite, but that is me.

3 is too young.

Most parties I've been to, the kids' parents stay till they are about 4.5 or 5. School age, iyswim?

YABU.

Leaving a three year old alone is a no no. The hosts will have enough on their plate without needing to look after a three year old who could get upset because mummy or daddy are not there.

Maybe when 4 or 5, but certainly not at the age of 3.

it's the b'day boy's 3rd b'day. My little one is 4. Still too young? sounds like 5'ish is the cut off.
Must admit i can't think of anything worse than 12 small children in my sole care . Looks like I'm having an afternoon of party food then!

3.5 hrs is a bloody long time for a 3rd birthday party IMO! Lots of hyperactive children, frazzled grown ups and party food squidged into carpets...

Bet next year they will hold the party somewhere else!

Ask the mum, I had a 3yo bday drop off party for about ten. It was all girls plus my two others. I think i had one other mum to help. It all depends on the hosting mum though, at that age you can't assume. If she's well organised she probably won't mind.

I HATED gangs of mums staying at parties. I used to shoo them out so long as the children were ok. But they usually were.

Just ask -- for ages 3-8 she might have an entertainer organised and family help. It's up to her though, not you.