Was this safe for a child’s party?

[Glovesareon]

I have just read the thread where most people’s advice was to supervise child and dog, you may have seen it.
It got me thinking.

A few months ago my dd (2yo) was invited to a nursery friends third birthday party.
Invite said we could leave dd if we wanted as they would happily supervise but, of course, we were welcome to stay.
I decided to stay with dd as she’s not the most confident.

At the party there were loads of indoor activities including pass the parcel, musical statues etc. Plus painting, modelling clay, craft etc.

Outside there was a bouncy castle, my dd seemed to prefer this to the other stuff so we were out there for a while.
I’m so glad I did stay with her because she got bored and began to explore the garden.
About 10 feet behind the bouncy castle, which was on a grassy lawn area, was an (at least) 8 foot sheer drop! Below was another area of the garden which was paved!

There was a set of steps at the side of the garden which had gates at the top and bottom but there was no barrier (ie fence or something) besides a border with flowers around the ‘top garden’ which luckily my dd wouldn’t go near because ‘dirty’

There was one poor frantic mummy though who was following her little boy everywhere for fear he would go over the side. He’d found a football too which didn’t help, it actually went over to the ‘lower level’ and wasn’t retrieved in the end.

I assume birthday girl was used to the garden layout so her mum didn’t see the problem but I was shocked to see such a big drop where little ones play!

Also, of the children who were outside, only their parents appeared to be supervising them, everyone else was inside.
I’m not sure what my aibu is but was it ‘U’ to not ‘childproof’ the garden in these circumstances?

I wouldn't be happy with this. It seems a danger.
That said my DD was found with turns, scissors and covered in aftershave last weekend when I arrived to collect her from relatives the other day so clearly we all have different ideas of safe and reasonable.

As you say, their child is used to the garden, they probably got complacent and just didn't think it through. As the child is still young I'm guessing they haven't had that many other children round at their house, especially in the garden.
It's not great, and an accident waiting to happen. Personally I would have mentioned something in the nicest way I could.

Turps*

8 foot drop ? I would have left early.

No. No it wasn't. Errrm......no, not really much to add to that 🤔

We have a similar layout in our garden though its a 5ft drop onto grass so not as dangerous.There isnt any way for us to child proof it, if there was we would do it but we keep the party at the top of the garden so no need for the kids to go down there and we watch them we also would warn all kids and their parents to not go near the drop. But wouldnt most children able to walk off down there on their own see the drop, know its dangerous and not jump off?

Sounds like the kids would have to trample through a flower bed to get to the drop though?
My ds has known since first walking not to walk into flower beds.
I guess I’d have expected it to be mentioned to all parents but not necessarily fenced off for the party.

But wouldnt most children able to walk off down there on their own see the drop, know its dangerous and not jump off?

Children falling down stairs, out windows, into wells, pools etc are common causes of death. 2 year olds arent known for their talents of risk assessment.

I'd have been furious and wondered what the hell they were playing at. Yes, their child was used to it and they may be complacent about her, but surely they aren't idiots and they understand that a load of unsupervised children should not be left alone with a potentially lethal to a child drop.

I wasn't always great about cutting up grapes, but you can be sure that I cut them up for parties because I on't know those other children and what they are capable of.

TBH though inviting a bunch of unknown 2 year olds to your home and then saying you will watch them yourself shows a certain lack of common sense. Even nurseries with trained professionals would need a better ratio of adult to child and they would not be dealing with an entire group of children who don't know the adults. If the parents had been stupid enough to leave they'd have had a dozen crying children.

The mum should have mentioned it! Our garden has several steep drops as is down a steep hill so on different levels with connecting steps. I ALWAYS make anyone coming to our house with kids of any age aware of this before hand. I constantly remind them when they are there too.
My son is very used to the drops but that doesnt mean I dont understand that other young children may not be.
YANBU

hidinginthenightgarden yeah it’s interesting what people consider dangerous isn’t it!

LyndorCake I went home wishing I’d said something!

TheConstantMoaner football boy mummy left early!

upsideup That’s just it! We weren’t warned! And if I’d not stayed, dd might have been unsupervised while exploring. And no, if the border wasn’t ‘dirty’ she wouldn’t have any idea what was on the other side (she’s TWO)

museumum the border (not flowerbed) was around a foot or so deep. Luckily my dd didn’t want to step in the soil but no, we weren’t warned.

@IDontEatFriedTurtle you get my way of thinking!

@haribosmarties I thought that! It’s common sense, surely?

Oops namechange fail! My first one! Oh well, doesn’t matter.

Fancy not warning you about that! It definitely sounds unsafe. My DC have all merrily trampled through borders and flowerbeds in our garden and other people’s gardens (despite being told not to) while playing. Usually while chasing stray balls.
I certainly wouldn’t trust a 2 or 3 yr old, especially one unfamiliar with the garden in question, to stay away from the edge of their own accord.