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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Do parents stay at toddler parties?

22 replies

Coffee1Sugar · 29/04/2013 19:38

Dd is nearly 3 and planning her party in my garden. Will the parents stay? Likewise am j expected to stay when she attends her friends parties? I don't know the parents as I sent invites via nursery

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hazeyjane · 29/04/2013 19:44

When my dds were 3 I would have expected to stay.

LunaticFringe · 29/04/2013 19:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hulababy · 29/04/2013 19:50

IME yes, parents stay.

It was part way through foundation/reception when most parents started to leave children at parties. They often stay at the first few at the start of the school year as they don't know the parents at all. If parties are at places like soft play parents often stay too, even when children are older - pRTLY AS PARENTS HAVE OFTEN HAD TO TRAVEL FURTHER TO GET THERE AND ALSO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE SO BIG.

Hulababy · 29/04/2013 19:50

Ooops - sorry for caps

motherinferior · 29/04/2013 19:51

Yes. Provide booze. Cheap fizz and crisps

Original poster

Coffee1Sugar · 29/04/2013 19:52

Oo ok thanks! Thought so! Must make sure I have grown up food then

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motherinferior · 29/04/2013 19:53

It's a nice way to meet people. Let's face it, most parents of small children don't get out much

Beatrixpotty · 29/04/2013 19:53

Definitely stay,you will want them around especially if in your house,there may be tantrums,squabbling over toys,toilet issues etc etc.It's also nice to meet the parents of the children that yours play with.

motherinferior · 29/04/2013 19:54

A glass of cava and they'll love you!

Tee2072 · 29/04/2013 19:54

I would definitely stay at 3. Probably will until 5ish.

LunaticFringe · 29/04/2013 19:56

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hulababy · 29/04/2013 19:58

Glass of wine, or a chilled lager, and some nibbles is all you need.

MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird · 29/04/2013 20:13

Depending on the time of day though hulababy! I once went to a 3 hour toddler party at 9am on a Saturday morning. I would have loved them forever if they had provided coffee (they didn't). Now cava and coffee...

Original poster

Coffee1Sugar · 29/04/2013 21:57

9am?!

My dd's is 1-3.30pm with a 2hr entertainer so I'm hoping I can kind of sit back and natter to the parents and supervise food/drink. Too optimistic?! I'm a teacher of 30 nine/ten year olds, 15 toddlers is beyond me!

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Fuckwittery · 29/04/2013 22:00

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spottyparrot · 29/04/2013 22:01

I would not consider leaving a toddler at a garden party. Parents should definitely stay IMO.

Original poster

Coffee1Sugar · 29/04/2013 22:10

Good thinking! I said RSVP by 11th may and so far got 9 kiddies including dd

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Hulababy · 30/04/2013 13:06

9am party!!!!! Sounds hell, lol

Original poster

Coffee1Sugar · 04/05/2013 18:02

Well dd and I went to the first of endless nursery 3rd birthdays today. My God, this mum went massively OTT. Each child got a £5 book and tshirt for "party bags", 1.5 hours private hire of a softplay and full on sit down kids dinner for 15kids. I can't compete with that . I've got 12kids in my garden with a kids entertainer and M&S party food

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Sanjifair · 04/05/2013 18:20

Coffee, she probably got the £5 book from the book people at £1 a shot...
Probably something similar for the t-shirt. Your party sounds fab. I went to a 3 yr old's party the other day, there were quite a few couples there so don't assume it'll be just one parent staying, it could be 2.

meglet · 04/05/2013 18:25

coffee it really doesn't matter_ how much the other parent spent, the kids won't realise and the parents won't care.

And she probably did get the books from the book people, that's quite normal. They work out quite cheap if you split a pack of books.

M&S party food sounds miles better than soft play party food, which IME is bad chips and chicken nuggets.

Beatrixpotty · 04/05/2013 21:01

coffee please don't worry.DS1 would have loved a party in the garden with M&S food when 3,never mind the entertainer.Most of the ones I've been to just had pass the parcel with frequent stops and sweets in every layer.Just come back from a nursery 4th bday party today and the party bag contained bubbles,a piece of cake & pick & mix,he loved it!

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