When it comes to choosing TV shows for your kids, who should you trust?

Ashley Fenwick-Naditch is a kid’s media producer and editor of the blog www.childrensmediaconsultant.com. Here, she explains what to make of parental ratings. Keep your salt shaker handy.

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Love your child, hate your child’s new friend. And for no reason. Just because. So what happens now? Do you suck it up and deal?

Challenge: Your child has just started to hang out with a classmate you really can’t stand. The thing is, this kid seems okay and has done nothing wrong. You just have a gut feeling you don’t want your child to get too close. So what do you do?

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David and Alan Rudman, the Chicago-based brothers who created Jack’s Big Music Show, are at it again. Not only are they executive-producing Bunnytown (premiering Nov. 10 on Playhouse Disney), but David’s serving as director and puppeteer, and Adam’s head writer. If the final product makes you think of Laugh-In, bunny-style, then they’ve done their job.

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Newsflash: Kids Like Candy
A professor of science education at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia recently surveyed his undergraduate students about their preference in Halloween treats. No surprise, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were the number one favorite, followed by Snickers, Swedish Fish, Twix and Skittles. Dr. Cifelli’s conclusion? “It’s clear that…candy is still the number one Halloween treat.” Good to know! We were thinking it was going to be those little packets of mustard and ketchup this year.

Next On…
Dora-obsessed households already know about this one: On Nov. 5, Nick Jr. will premiere a new Dora the Explorer flick: Dora Saves the Mermaids. (If your offspring can’t wait till then, go to Nickjr.com for an exclusive music video and two-minute sneak peek.) Here’s the lowdown: Dora and Boots are cleaning up garbage at the beach when a singing clam (is there any other kind?) tells them the story of Marina the Mermaid. Apparently, a mean octopus (again, is there any other kind?) has dumped garbage all over Marina’s beautiful Mermaid Kingdom and now the mer-people are all sick! Not to worry, Dora and Boots will save the day, with a little help from Diego and even Swiper.

Thinking Outside the Box
Tuesday, November 13, is Sadie Hawkins Day and National Indian Pudding Day (yes, really), but it’s also National Invite Parents to School Day. And for good reason: Ongoing research shows that parental involvement in schools improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and makes parents feel more confident in their child’s education. So visit away. Just one caveat: Please make sure your kid’s onboard with your visiting. We can think of few things worse for a tween than being asked, “Dude, did you bring your mommy to school?” After all, November 13 is also World Kindness Day.

• NEA.org/parents