To don´t let my child alone in playdates, she is only 3 !

[ShiftLD]

A friend of mine invited my 36 months old DD to play with her child, of course DD said yes and come along with them... I get very confused, then desperated, tried to think and reacted, I decided to join them. I excuse me because I´m very protective mum etc and stayed at her house, chatting but at the same time thinking if I was doind the right thing.

At what age could a child play alone with her peers without mum?

I think its fine to stay with a pre school age child, not weirdly over protective at all, even if your DD seemed ok about it. My DC stayed at friend's houses on their own at 3 or 4 but only families I knew well. They didn't go to houses where I didn't know the parents that well until they were in reception.

When I felt they were ready, DS2 who is 5, I still don't leave alone at parties as sometimes all the noise and hoo haa is a bit overwhelming for him and he likes one of us to stay. However he is happy as larry to be left at a friends house on a 1-2-1 playdate. I'd say 3 is too young for a solo play date, you do what you feel is right for you and DD.

I would have only left ds at 3 with people I knew REALLY well for all manner of reasons.

God I feel so relieved...I thought about that all weekend, feeling a bit stupid for my reaction...

I don't think ds had playdates by himself until he was 5 iirc unless it was with very good family friends.

My DD is 5 and before we moved house I would happily let her have play dates on her own as I knew and trusted the parents. We've just moved and DD had a play date recently and I stayed as I didn't know the parents, although obviously they are very nice and responsible. Also I stayed because my DD had not been there before and if there had been a problem I didn't want her to be upset or the other mum to have to cope with it all. I don't know if the other mum thought I was weird for staying (only a couple of hours, but maybe 2 hours too long for her) but at least she was very nice about me being there although I never actually explained that I was going to stay just sort of did, and we had a nice chat. In future I won't be staying, if we get invited back (her DD currently here at mine), because I"m happy that DD will be OK there. I feel a bit embarrassed that I stayed and wonder if the other mum was upset that I did, but at the end of the day we have to decide what's best for our children and go with it, if other people have a problem with that then I guess there'll be no more interaction.