Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: Halloween is a few days away, and that means trick-or-treating time for kids. How will you make sure they stay safe this Halloween? At what age do you let them go on their own, if at all? For that matter, how old is too old to go out trick-or-treating? Please comment in …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: When looking for Halloween costumes, it is likely you will run across a few provocative outfits. What's more, is that some of these costumes are aimed at young girls. What do you think of these costumes? How sexy is too sexy? When do you allow your children to completely …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: For many parents, the process of selling, buying, and moving can turn life upside down. How do you tell your children? How do you move without completely disrupting their world? Please comment in the box below, and check Norton Patch every Wednesday at 1 p.m. for this …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: Bullying has been a hot button issue for some time now, though kids have been teased since the dawn of school. In fact, per the recomendation of a lawyer, Norton Public Schools recently made a change to their bullying policy to include adults. People of all ages "bully" …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: Norton Public Schools recently received and reviewed their district's MCAS results. While most students reached the target scores of 95.1 in English Language Arts and 92.2 in Mathematics, curriculum director Jennifer O'Neill noted that there was room for improvement, …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: The question: "How was your day at school?" The answer: "Fine." This scene is fairly common when kids come home from school. How do you elicit a better answer to that question from children? Or do you ask other questions that get conversation going about how your child's …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: It's that time of the year again...school time! And that means homework. It's not uncommon for parents to be roped into homework though. How do you make sure your kids do all their homework? If they do not understand the assignment, how do you help? What if you don't …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question Your kids look at how their friends families live and may feel jealousy - they have a nicer home, go on nicer vacations, drive nicer cars, have cooler toys, etc. How do you help children understand this? Please comment in the box below, and check Norton Patch every …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: A lot of parents use chores as a way to teach kids responsibility, whether it's taking the dog for a walk or washing dishes. How do you decide who does what chore around the house in your family? How do you make sure those chores get done? Please comment in the box below…

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: The school bus stop is always a tricky subject. On one hand, you don't want to embarass your child by waiting with them until they get their license, but on the other you worry about bullies, kidnapping and general bad behavior. At what age should kids be allowed to wait …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: When kids buy lunch, it is hard to know if what they are eating is healthy. How do you make sure your children are eating balanced meals in school? Do you think schools do a good job of providing nutricious food? Please comment in the box below, and check Norton Patch …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a few questions: How do you prepare your kindergartender for their first day of school? How do you help the transition of your children from elementary school to middle school, and from middle school to high school? Please comment in the box below, and check Norton Patch every Wednesday at 1 p…

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a few questions: Should children be given allowance? How often, how much and what are the terms, if yes? What does this do for children? Please comment in the box below, and check Norton Patch every Wednesday at 1 p.m. for this segment.

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: Disciplining children is a neccessary part of them learning right from wrong. Which methods do you think are most effective? Time outs? Grounding? Chores? If you have any creative ways, please share. Also, what do you do when you and your partner do not agree on methods? …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: It's tough these days to both work enough to provide all the essentials for your family and spend quality time with them. Often parents work 70 hours a week and are just too tired to even read their children a bedtime story. How do you balance work and family and do your …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: The story of 36-year-old Marie Joseph who drowned in a Fall River public pool without being found for two days has spread across media outlets this week. It has brought a lot of attention to the safety of local pools and what's being done to make sure nothing like that …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic.  So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and some questions:  The kids are out of school for the summer and it’s time to think about taking that long awaited trip. With gas and hotel accommodation prices as high as they are, however, it can be tough to take the family on vacation. But if you look in the right places, you can…

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: It's almost summer vacation time, and after the hype wears off, many kids will start saying how bored they are, or will spend a lot of time watching television or playing video games. How will you keep your kids active this summer? What are some good programs or things to…

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: Even in kindergarten I remember having a "boyfriend." Of course, it didn't get more serious than playing together at recess. But at a young age we learn that part of becoming an adult is dating. Though elementary school relationships don't really count, kids really do …

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: Too much technology wasn't something parents had to worry about 30 years ago. But now children want the latest cell phones and a Facebook page. Some schools have tried banning cell phone use because texting has become a problem in the classroom. And in the news, we've all…