Last year, researchers at Canisius College in New York released a study that revealed something many parents already know: children see pets as more than just animals.

“They often see themselves as the center of their pets' affections," says researcher Joshua J. Russell. "They describe their pets as siblings or best friends with whom they have strong connections.”

And when those pets die, the loss can hit children especially hard. Kids form strong bonds with their pets, whether that means playing outdoor games with a dog or snuggling up with a cat on a chilly night.

The loss of a pet might be your child’s first exposure to death. While it can be difficult – one boy told Russell “My life was over” when his cat died suddenly – there are ways to help your child cope.

We turned to some expert sources – the Nemours pediatric health system and the Humane Society – for advice on how to help children deal with the loss of a pet.

Socializing shy children might seem like a challenge.

While some kids are outgoing little fireballs, yours prefers to hang back and do her own thing. And while there's nothing wrong with being introverted, it's natural for parents to worry their child lacks confidence and is lagging in terms of social development.

Fortunately, there are ways to help your children build strong relationships with their friends and classmates. Read on to learn some tips for socializing shy children.

Kids want to play, but just as importantly, they need to play. It’s good for them, and helps them become well-rounded adults.

As Deborah J. Leong and Elena Bodrova wrote in a Scholastic article on the importance of child’s play: 

“There is a growing body of research that shows a link between play and the development of cognitive and social skills that are prerequisites for learning more complex concepts as children get older.”

Here are eight things parents should know about child’s play:

Trying to keep your kids occupied this Winter?

It's tough sometimes. Endless cold days and not enough ideas. Kids are little balls of energy, and all the backyard games that helped them decompress in the warmer months are off-limits because of cold weather.

Blogger Anna Luther was facing her first winter with staying home with a toddler, and decided to go looking for ways to avoid cabin fever.

Here are a few of her suggestions for wintertime toddler activities.