How old do your children need to be before you drop them at the house of parents you do not know?

[BonsoirAnna]

Eg for a birthday party or play date?

I think liking to chat is a very healthy activity, actually - so don't worry about it.

DD was 4.1 when we did this for the first time.

I had seen the mother a couple of times at school but only to say'hello'. DD was quite happy to be left because half of her classmates were already there. DH who did drop off stayed and chatted for a few minutes and swapped phone numbers.

I prefer the parties where the parents are invited to stay but this clearly wasn't one.

I have dropped and ran since dd1 started school in Sept last year

But she's 5.2, and a confident child

Not sure I'll feel the same about dd2 who is a bit more hesitant (esp if not with dd1)

We started this when DD started school, so she was 4y.

Parties - it gradually happened during reception. First couple of parties most parents stayed, by spring term more and more parents were leaving.

Playdates - again gradually during Reception DD went to more and more, and we had more children back here too. We never did ones with parents coming as well. We knew parents from talking to them at school and on odd school events or the parties.

I would try and chat to other mothers first. I couldnt leave my Dc with anyone I didnt know.
This is probably down to the work that I do and have been on alot of child protection seminars/training etc.
Everyone has a different idea to parenting I think its a good idea to get a sense of this first before leaving your child.

but how can you really know people by chatting at the school gates? You may get some vague judgement about the way they speak or dress or whether they like a bit of discipline or routine or whatever but you wont know anything else about them imo.