4 yo bday party - do parents stay or go?

[moodlumthehoodlum]

Just about to send out invitations to dd's party - I've got 22 4 year olds potentially coming - do their parents stay for the duration, or just drop off and pick up?

Its not just me in charge, I've got two party entertainers, so I don't need the parents for crowd management.

I was going to say that they should do whatever felt comfortable with?

At the last few parties that DS1 has been to (4th birthdays) there have been a few mums who have left but the majority have stayed.

Will be sending invites out for DS1's soon and am anticipating about a 50/50 split on those who stay and those who go.

IME if you give the option for parents to go they run away very quickly!
Give them the option.
At DD party only about 3 parents stayed with 17 kids but no issues. Another party where we stayed one child, whose parents weren't there fell over and hurt herself and we spent a while calming her down...leave it to the parents choice and have a paper where they can write a contact number if there are any problems.
If all the kids know each other then it better. If the venue is a long way from home a lot of people will stay.

Thanks.

That's a lot of catering isn't it!

parents will hoover up what the kids leave, but you can always do bread sticks for parents or something small

For the 4th birthday parties we went to last year most parents stayed, this year (at 5) most seem to be going.
HTH

they must be mad to stay - 22 4 year olds!!

maybe just put a little note on the invite " you can have x hours on your own - get your nails done!" so people know thay dont have to stay. I always appreciate being given a guilt-free pass for a while

Thanks. I was feeling quite blase about the whole thing, and now I'm writing the invitations I have the fear

Message withdrawn

Is she at school?

We found that prior to them going to school almost every parent stayed at parties.
Once they got to school, in the first term, more and more parents gradually stopped staying. In Y1 now and it is very few parents stay unless the venue or ditance to travel dictates they need to (i.e. some soft plays).

For DD's 4th and 5th parties I laid on nibbles and soft drinks for parents as I knew some parents would stay. This year I won't as hey will go.

She's at nursery, going up to reception in September with all her buddies.

I'll put some things for grown ups out as well, as it is 2hours, which is a long time to stand around.

This party thing is a minefield!