parents dropping off 3 and 4 yr olds at parties

[Lori73]

hi, would love to know your opinions on this as i am looking to organise a party for my pre-school child soon. I attended a b'day party recently at a soft play centre for a 4 yr old. The play centre is also open to the general public (who pay admission) when the party is on, and so kids from the party and the general public are playing together on the same equipment. I noticed a number of parents are happy to drop off their child at the centre and just ask the parent hosting the party to watch their child until the parent comes back a couple of hours later.
However, the play centre emphasises in their terms and conditions that the centre won't be responsible for accidents, the supervising adult should. Is it a bit much to expect the host to be watching other people's children when they are busy watching their own plus trying to coordinate the party? Just interested to know your views. Thankfully all the kids without parents there were fine, but it would be awful if a child was hurt and their parent wasn't there. I would feel dreadful as the host. But maybe I am just over worried?

I think it is a bit slapdash for parents not to stay at this age as there are often Injuries at soft play. The worst behaved kids are the ones whose parents are most likely to bugger off as well!!!

Oh, just came across this
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/parties_celebrations/996995-Do-you-stay-at-party-for-3-year-old

aft er posting my own thread earlier. I think this answers my question. It looks like the consensus is probably that it is not a good idea to leave 4 year olds without their parents at a party, particularly if it is at a play centre open to the public. Apart from the issue of their safety and supervision at a play centre I am guessing at that age the kids will have a nicer time anyway with the security of their parents being there.

Interested to hear of anyone else's experience though.

I think it depends on venue size. We have a huge soft play; def no. We also have a very small one, where you can see 90% of the playframe from the seated area, and altho it gets busy, there are also v quiet times when you could hear any distress easily, like the last 2 hrs slot before closing.