N.P.
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usually drop off parties start at age 5 not 4.
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Okay, so this is all new to me. We moved here almost a year ago. My son is turning 4 this month and I planned a small birthday party at the house. I sent out invitations & now 4 of the 8 parents have come back and asked me if it was a drop off party.... I had no idea that I had to even start considering that so young. So, I guess my question is, at what age do you usually expect it to be a drop off party? I already told these mom's that it wasn't, but should I reconsider and call them back? We moved from Charlotte, NC & his playgroup has all had their birthday's this year. My son was the youngest, so the rest of the boys turned 5 this year. They were all still with parents and my friends thought it was crazy that people were even asking. What's the expection here?
Also on a side note...any cool and fun ideas for the party? This is our first attempt at an at home party. I assume the kids will just play, but should I have activities planned too? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks so much everyone!!
added note: We do have a definate time line. I set the party from 4:30-6:30 with plans for pizza, cake and presents at the end. I figured that gave me a little over an hour that I needed to fill before we start pizza. Thanks for the advice so far!
usually drop off parties start at age 5 not 4.
N.
Ok so I am the over protective parent. I think 4 is way to young for a drop off party. especially if you really don't know these children / parents well. My take on that. the other things is you need to set a defintie time frame for the party. say 1 and half hours. pick some games like bozo buckets, clothes pins in a jug etc. maybe some sort of arty thing (I always have them decorate a goodie bag that they take home with some goodies) then cake and punch and go home. But I would not at 4 have left any of my children with a group of other people that i did not know well. i htink your friends from your other state are right.
S.
I think four is a great age to start drop off parties. Most kid's birthday parties that I go to it's a bunch of adults standing around looking bored not engaging the kids and the kids start to look a little listless.
I would plan it for an hour and a half to two hours, plays some games (musical chairs, duck duck goose, pinata) maybe do a fun craft or something messy and then cake, presents and done (maybe put out paper and markers and play dough for free play while you wait for parents)...but if you can get them to just free play and they're happy, nevermind the game/craft idea. But have something as a back up.
Hi J., By the time my youngest was 4 he was already in preschool for 2 years for speech problems so he was invited to many birthday parties by that time. I was amazed how many parents just dropped their kids off and ran when it was at like chuck E cheese or some place like that. If it was at someones house that was a different story because there would be other family members there to help the parents with the kids, so I would meet the parents and give them my cellphone number and made sure the number on the invite was the best contact number for them. I would stay for about 15 mins or so and I would be on my way. Alot of parents do that now, but for me not at a public place. Good Luck and Happy birthday to your son.
4 was the age for us for drop off parties, unless the party was somewhere like Chuck E Cheese where it was a big non-private room that would be impossible for the host to watch all of the kids. At homes and more private venues (pump it up, etc. where they get a private room for the kids) it was all drop off for the 4th birthday and beyond.
For the at home party, I would definitely have something planned..easy crafts..finger painting with color wonder is great or check out oriental trading for something they can make. They can even decorate a treat bag (brown lunch bag) for a pinata (the pull kind, not the beat with a bat kind!!) And a few old school games like hot potato and musical chairs. Then cake, presents and that's it. 2 hours should be good. Free play with a bunch of 4 year olds may be expecting too much..someone will have some toy that someone wants and it could turn into mass chaos real quick!
Good luck and have fun!
