Some of you had fond memories of these nostalgic characters.

“My daughter had a troll years ago. She is now 44 and I know that she would want one for her four-year-old son and one to keep for her 3 1/2 month old son. She really treasured hers and our dog ate half of the face so she couldn't keep it.”

Some questioned the educational value.

“What can our children possibly learn from a troll doll?”

While others extolled their virtues.

“I certainly enjoyed them as a child, and think it is a venue to teach children that toys such as people come in all different forms and all should be valued!!”

We really got a kick out of these, and many other great comments. For all of you who were gung ho for trolls, we’re sorry to say you’ll have to get your fuzzy-haired fix elsewhere. For now, this is a troll-free zone.


Dining out with kids

There’s an adage that children are best seen but not heard. This old-fashioned expression is nearly obsolete, except in restaurants, where it still seems to prevail, especially among folks who’ve never tried to keep a kid quiet while dining out.

In fact, visiting restaurants with kids is challenging, but that doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t attempt it. With good preparation, eating out as a family can be a really enjoyable experience.

Here are some tips to stack the odds in your favor:

Call ahead
Check with the restaurant to make sure that they are willing to accommodate families. It doesn’t make sense to go where you aren’t welcome. Ask if they will supply a high chair or booster seat, if you child needs one. Make sure there’s something on the menu your child will eat, or ask if they can accommodate special requests. Whenever possible try to make a reservation so you don’t have to wait for a table.

Timing is everything
Remember that the two major factors responsible for meltdowns are exhaustion and hunger. If you’re planning a dinner expedition, make sure your kids get some time for a nap during the day. When you make a reservation, be mindful of bedtime. Keeping kids out too late can be a recipe for disaster.

Earlier is better for the restaurant staff, too. The dinner rush tends to peak at around 7pm, so if you plan to arrive at (or before) 6, you’ll find an emptier dining room, servers who are well-rested and patient, and a kitchen staff that can work quickly and easily handle any special requests.

It’s counterintuitive, but don’t sit down to eat when your kids are ravenous. Younger children will have an especially hard time waiting for food to come. Give your kids a small snack about 45 minutes before your reservation, and consider packing some cheerios or crackers in your purse or diaper bag.

Order wisely
If you’re out with younger children, consider skipping the appetizers. Kids naturally have a limited attention span, and a smaller appetite than adults. You’ll improve your chances of making it to dessert, too.

Many restaurants will offer to bring your children’s meals to the table ahead of the other food. This isn’t always a good plan. If your child finishes eating before your food even arrives, you won’t get to enjoy your meal, since you’ll be trying to keep your child entertained and out of trouble. Unless your kids are really starving, opt to get their food at the same time as yours.

Be realistic
It’s very difficult for young children to sit quietly through the course of a whole meal. Kids especially love to explore, and restaurants are full of interesting things to see and touch. It’s a good idea to establish firm rules about good restaurant behavior, and be consistent about enforcing them, but give your kids supervised opportunities to get up and explore.

While you’re waiting for the food, take a couple of minutes to walk with your child around the restaurant and point things out, as long as you’re not in the way of the servers. Also, come prepared with toys, books, and other ideas to keep them occupied. We’ll talk more about that in a minute.

When it all goes wrong
Whether you’re confronting a tantrum, a big mess or some sort of disruption to another person’s meal, be very apologetic. For the sake of your fellow patrons and restaurant staff, be gracious instead of defensive. If your child is creating a scene, take him (or her) out of the dining area. Usually, being away from the stimulation of the restaurant will help him (or her) calm down. If there’s been a significant mess, consider leaving a larger tip for your server.

If your child has caused a legitimate disruption to another person’s meal (we’re not talking about laughing too loudly – think major spills, a rattle flung at someone’s head or your child’s greasy handprints on a pristine leather jacket), it’s right to offer some restitution. If there’s been real damage done, offer to cover any costs associated with cleaning or repair. Otherwise, speak to the hostess or your waitress and offer to pay for a round of drinks or some desserts. Maybe they’ll take you up on it, or maybe they won’t, but they will certainly appreciate the gesture.

If all else fails and you need to beat a hasty retreat, hail your server and take the food to go. Whatever happens, do your best to stay calm and keep a sense of humor about the whole thing. You can rescue a tough evening by having a good laugh about it (probably best once the kids are out of earshot).

Restaurant Survival Kits

Many kid-friendly restaurants will supply patrons with crayons and coloring placemats or activity booklets. These are usually geared towards kids 5 and up who know how to read (and color in the lines). Call ahead to see what kinds of kid amenities the restaurant offers.

In any case, if you like to eat out with your children, consider assembling a kit that you reserve just for restaurants. Use an old purse or tote bag and fill it with age-appropriate activities:

For babies:
• Rattles
• Teethers
• Board Books
• Linking rings
• A peek-a-boo cloth (napkins work well, too)
• Finger puppets

For Toddlers:
• An old wallet filled with “credit cards” (use depleted gift cards or those samples that come in the mail)
• A notepad
• Chubby crayons
• A lift-the-flap book
• An old pair of (non-prescription) glasses
• A small car or truck
• Temporary tattoos

For Preschoolers:
• A makeup mirror and some old cosmetics brushes
• Crayons
• A notepad
• Post-it notes
• Wikki Stix
• A pop-up book
• Kid-friendly scissors

For Older Kids:
• Crayons
• Coloring/Sticker books
• Activity books (mazes and dot-to-dot especially)
• Origami paper
• Scissors
• Wikki Stix
• Book of jokes or interesting facts
• Rubik’s cube or similar solitaire brainteaser

If you’d like some help compiling a survival kit tailored to your family, stop by the store and ask. We’re happy to help.

Have you been mortified by your kids in a restaurant?
Share your funniest story and win dinner on us! Our staff will vote for the best story, and the winner will get an American Express gift card for $25. We’ll include our favorites in the next issue of BeansTALK.

Email your story to beanstalk@mbeans.com