Would you leave your 4.5 year old?

[megs193]

My 4.5 year old son has a play date tomorrow with a kid in his class.  I have chatted with the parents at drop off or pick up but we have never done anything outside of school. The mom called today to confirm and at the end of our conversation she said I could drop him off at 12:30 and that she may have to run out for a little bit but her mom would be home the whole day and would keep an eye on them.  I totally thought I was staying the whole time. I'm not sure I am comfortable leaving my child there the first time we go over. Am I crazy?  What age do you start leaving kids for a play date?

[Marmee]

I am ok with it with the parents in my 4.5yr olds class...she's also my 3rd. I've loosened up a lot since my first kid. Lol

[ECB]

DS was about that age the first time I did a drop off. It did feel weird - but it went well. I only know the parents because of DS and we've gotten to know them a bit more over the past year. While we're not "friends" per se, I like them and we're comfortable dropping DS off. And they've dropped their son off at our house too.

[skib]

We haven't run into this yet, but I think I would probably "blame" DD and say, "She can be a little shy sometimes, so I'm going to stay for a little while just to make sure she's ok." Then if everyone feels comfortable after a little bit, I'd leave. If she didn't want me to leave, I wouldn't. If I didn't feel comfortable leaving, I'd stay.

[barefootcontessa]

It sounds like you really do not know the parents very well. I do not think I would feel comfortable either. PP has a good idea of how to handle it.

[megs193]

Apr 18, 2014 20:53:39 GMT -5 skib said:

We haven't run into this yet, but I think I would probably "blame" DD and say, "She can be a little shy sometimes, so I'm going to stay for a little while just to make sure she's ok." Then if everyone feels comfortable after a little bit, I'd leave. If she didn't want me to leave, I wouldn't. If I didn't feel comfortable leaving, I'd stay.

This is what I'm going to do. If I'm super comfortable I'll leave for 30 minutes and waunder around home goods. 30 minutes in home goods without being terrified my kids will break something may be worth the anxiety of leaving him.

[cinco]

I started leaving the kids at play dates at 4. I felt comfortable with all the parents though. I think staying for a little while first makes sense in this situation.

[imojoebunny]

I have sent my four year old second child to other people's houses without knowing the parents outside of pick up and drop off, and I have had a dozen different four year olds over whose parents only know me from seeing me at drop off. If I invite a child, I am no longer inviting the parent, unless I specifically do. I agree with Cinco. Stay and chat for a bit, if the mom seems normal and the children seem happy and the house seems like it is safe, even if not HGtV worthy, I would go enjoy my afternoon. With my 7 year old, I often never even see the parents. I pick up from school, and drop them back off at aftercare, their house, or the nanny will come get them.