Every parenting blog and article are talking about fine motor skills, but what are they really? 

Well, the distinction between fine and gross motor skills marks the difference between small and exact muscle movements (using a pencil, pressing a button etc.) and more general motor abilities (walking, sitting down and so on.) While gross motor skills are usually acquired in the first few years of life, fine motor skills take longer to refine.

The reason for this is that dexterity is highly nuanced and requires a great deal of development. This type of use of the hands puts to action several areas of the brain, all of which need to work together smoothly in order to take in the information, analyze it, plan the exact movement and execute it within an inch. As adults we tend to take for granted such daily activities as typing and using utensils, but in fact they are an expression of an extremely delicate and sophisticated system.

So how can you help your child develop his or her fine motor skills? Well, practice makes perfect. Show them how to use their tools correctly and just have fun making things together. One of the most fun ways to practice is arts and crafts. If you need some inspiration, check out our blogpost about it – it has plenty of ideas for fun craft activities!

Don't be alarmed if your child doesn't preform perfectly. These abilities take time and practice to improve. Remind yourself that some fine motor action are difficult even for adults… like the grasp doll machine! Did you see our 3D animated video for kids about it?!

New findings suggest that dark chocolate might not be only tasty but also healthy… Read more to find out why you should eat some today!

There seems to be wide agreement that chocolate is delicious and indeed one of the greater sources of joy to people around the world. When it comes to chocolate's effects on health, however, things get more complicated. Sure, chocolate is fun – but is it healthy for you and for your kids? As it turns out, it just might be!

For starters, dark chocolate can be good for your heart. A large Harvard study found that women who ate 1-2 ounces of chocolate per week cut their risk of heart failure by almost a third. Other, similar researches also showed a reduction in the risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as lowered heart pressure.

Chocolate can also help you reduce stress. A study conducted in Switzerland showed that over a short period of time, a small amount of dark chocolate can reduce stress hormone levels and the metabolic effects of stress. Needless to say, chocolate has a well-known effect on mood which has also been backed by science. It's a proven way to make you happier on the spot!

Other researchers are starting to find even more surprising effects for chocolate, especially of the dark kind. For instance, that drinking cocoa rich in flavanols can increase blood flow to certain parts of your brain and thus improve short-term brain performance. And that those same flavanols and antioxidants might help protect you from skin cancer and sunburn.

In short – the key here is moderation and a focus on dark, rather than milk, chocolate. Try it, it can be good for you!

Don't forget to check out our newest video in our series of 3D animation for kids – The Chocolate Song!

The history of this beloved cookie turns out to be more complicated than you might have imagined. Its history is highly debated... Read more to find out why.

The chocolate chip cookie, which recently celebrated its 75^th birthday, is one of the world's most beloved sweet treats. It is popular among children and adults alike and subject to a million and one variations, from differences between the cookie brands to home recipes (check out some pretty rad ones right here).

So yes, the cookies themselves are household items, but not so the story behind them. As it turns out, the history of that delicious cookie is highly debated…!

The first chocolate chip cookie was created by Ruth Graves Wakefield, owner of a popular Massachusetts restaurant named Toll House Inn (yep, that's where the brand name Nestle uses comes from!) But how was it first invented?

Wakefield claims it was a deliberate invention, stating that she had wanted to create something new for her customers, who had mostly been served a butterscotch nut cookie with ice cream. Nestle, on the other hand, claimed that Wakefield had put pieces of Nestle chocolate in the batter, hoping they would melt and make up a regular chocolate cookie.

Another version comes from Toll House Inn head chef George Boucher, who claims that the chocolate accidentally fell (!) into Wakefield's mix because of the vibrations from a large mixer which was in work on another shelf.

We may never know the truth about the origins of the chocolate chip cookie but we can all agree on one thing: whichever way it came about, it was certainly a happy occasion which was destined to change snack time forever!

Need some more chocolaty goodness in your life? Check out our new song for kids, the chocolate song!

As a parent you may get tired of playing the same thing over and over again. For your child, however, it's essential

Everyone who has ever spent more than a few minutes with a toddler knows how much young children love repetition. They can hear the same song time after time, ask you the same questions every day and they never, ever seem to be sick of playing the same toys in the same way for a long while.

The common explanation for this is a neural one. When we learn something new, a neural pathway is created between areas in our brains which are relevant for that new information. The more we practice, the stronger that pathway will get, meaningless energy will be required to use it. For toddlers, who are constantly learning and retaining new information and abilities regarding their environment and themselves, this is particularly crucial.

Another issue that factors into children's love of repetition is the need for rituals. As grownups we feel it too: we like establishing our routine, and while we enjoy occasionally breaking it – for a beach vacation, for instance – we always go back to it. Living in chaos is just too difficult! And if you think it's difficult for you, consider how much harder it is for a child, who doesn't necessarily have a good grasp on the passage of time yet. 

In this sense, repetition can be very comforting. The ability to predict the next step, say the end of the story or even the result of pressing a specific button on their toy, can help toddlers feel safe and in control.

Does your kid love repetition in interactive toys? Check out our special video collection all about interactive toys! 

Time for some 'natural' art!

When it's warm and sunny outside, any excuse to spend time outdoors is a good one. One fun thing to do with your kids – which is sure to entertain as well as help their development –is to work on some outdoor art. 

If you grab some paint and paper and dress the toddlers in comfy clothes, you can feel free to experiment with your art without making a mess at home.

Try to involve nature in your creation. Finger paints are old news: why not employ some of the organic tools you see around you, and learn something about nature in the process? You can use glue to stick some leaves on your painting, or find a tree branch and draw in the sand with it. 

The kids can get as creative as they like and enjoy full freedom of work without worrying about cleaning up. 

You can even use the opportunity to teach the children about recycling. Bring some supplies from home, such as old egg cartons, and include them in your artwork too. Discuss with your kids the meaning of re-using these items, and you could all have a great time together which is both fun and educational!

Want to have fun painting at home without getting dirty? Try our online playground, where you can paint TuTiTu objects by clicking them or print out fun coloring pages!

Can your toddler tell the difference between a triangle and a square? Why is it even important?

Learning about shapes and colors helps toddlers develop cognitive skills. By naming the objects around them and classifying them according to different categories (e.g. Shape, color, size), children learn to think about their surroundings in different ways. Learning about shapes and colors also develops toddlers' communication skills, as they discuss these concepts with peers, caregivers and educators. Receiving positive feedback and mastering object properties is also beneficial for children's self-esteem, and provides a great opportunity to learn while having fun. Our latest Parents' Area article, Shapes and Colors Learning Game for Toddlers, provides detailed instructions for a fun, easy to make, DIY shapes & colors game the kids will love. You can play this game with just one kid, or with a group - check it out and let us know what you think in the comments! 

Our Pinterest "Kids ♥ Shapes & Colors" board has many more great ideas for parents and educators looking for inspiration, craft ideas, games, recommended apps/books and art projects to enjoy with your kids.

You can also teach toddlers shapes and colors by watching videos for kids together. TuTiTu's "toys come to life" series is an excellent tool with which to teach children colors and shapes. As always – these educational videos for kids are only as effective as you make them: watch the video with the toddler and ask them about the colors or shapes they can identify on the screen to maximize their learning experience.

Have fun learning!

For parents and children in most countries, Father's Day is just around the corner (June 15), and here at the TuTiTu studio, we are getting ready to celebrate the special bond between kids and dads.  

Fathers and fatherhood are particularly appreciated by the Tu-Ti-Team, since the birth of this 3D-animated toddler phenomenon is a direct result of both. To read more about TuTiTu's creators and learn how fatherhood changed their lives (and brought about international success), visit our new "Parents' Area" and get the inside-scoop on the story of TuTiTu.

Looking for Father's Day gift ideas or Father's Day crafts and activities for kids? Among our many educational-fun-for-kids centered Pinterest boards you'll find the "Kids Love Father's Day" board, where a special collection of great ideas - including homemade gifts for dad, recipes, coloring pages and more - is waiting just for you! 

We will also mark Father's Day on our Facebook page by posting beautifully illustrated quotes about fatherhood and fathers both here, and in our newly-minted quotes gallery. 

So how will you celebrate? Sing-along dad/kid marathon? Make dinner together? Online-games for kids play-together session? A crazy night out on the town – the toddler version that ends by 6pm? 

Whichever activity you choose, we wish you and your little ones a happy Father's Day!  

Whether it was the "mama" or "dada" you've been waiting for, or something else altogether, you will probably never forget the moment your child first spoke a "real" word. 

Stepping into the world of words is an exciting developmental step for parents and children alike, and once your child starts speaking, the rate by which he or she learns new words is often truly astonishing.

Providing children with fun videos that help expand their vocabulary is one of our main goals here at TuTiTu. By the end of each TuTiTu video, the child - excited to find out what TuTiTu is building- will call out the toy's name. In this way, the names of objects related to a child's life are effortlessly learned.  And as one fan/mom has told me recently – if your kid is watching TuTiTu, don't be surprised if she's the only 1.5 year old in her preschool class who knows words like "zeppelin" and "submarine". 

But teaching new words doesn't have to end with passively watching videos. Our website has many offerings for parents' interested in ways to teach toddlers new words with TuTiTu: from sing-along songs to free online games for kids. Check out the link to read an article we recently published in our new "parents area", and get ideas for ways to use these resources and utilize the educational benefits of TuTiTu. 

And speaking of language learning- did you know we have an "English to Spanish language learning" episode? This new language-centered series is meant for bilingual kids who are learning new words in multiple languages. Spanish is only the beginning: more episodes are coming in each of the 13 languages TuTiTu is available in, and we are eager to here if you have requests for any particular languages in mind... 

Happy learning!  

Sing-along play-along for toddlers! Our new 3D animated playground song for kids is a huge success- after being out on YouTube for less than a week, the song is already fast-approaching 200K views. To be honest? We're not surprised. We've been humming this tune around the studio constantly lately, and we think this is a perfect song for kids, since it features simple lyrics, repetition, and a delightful melody. Here's a fun game you can play to get the kids moving with this playground song: 

Step 1: Teach the kids a special movement for each action word: skip, swing, jump, and play. If you're playing outside in the playground, for example, "swing" can be running to touch the swings. If you're in a limited indoor space, "swing" your arms from side to side, "play" can be free-play (also known as "going crazy"), "jump" is pretty self-explanatory,etc. 

Step 2: Play the playground song video (or sing it!) and skip, swing, jump and play along. Fun and giggles are guaranteed, and your kids are learning new words in the process. Win-win.    

Step 3: Create variations. Adapt to match your child's age, abilities and preferences. Try letting the kids make up the movements - they are sure to come up with some funny stuff. You can also try this classic: hum a specific word instead of singing it, adding a new word with each repetition until you are humming the whole thing (this is a good challenge to keep older siblings engaged). 

Have other ideas for fun things to do with sing-along songs? Share with the rest of us!  

Being able to speak more than one language has many benefits: it can make traveling the world easier and safer, it enhances cultural understanding, it improves employment prospects, and it's even been shown in some studies to delay the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's. 

It is no wonder, then, that many parents are interested in helping their children learn a second language. But which language should you put all that time, effort, and possibly money, into?  

One increasingly popular option is Spanish - and here are 7 reasons why:  

1. Spanish is the second largest native-language worldwide, surpassed only by Mandarin.

2. Approximately 406 million people around the world speak Spanish. 

3. Biggest concentration of Spanish speakers: Mexico, the U.S., Colombia, and Spain.

4. Spanish is the third most used language on the Web, used by nearly 8% of web users. 

5. Spanish is the second most used language in the United States. 

6. Spanish is the most popular second language to learn for American English speakers.

7. By 2050, it is expected that 10% of the world's population will speak Spanish.   

For all these reasons and more, Spanish has become a popular language for kids from all over the world to learn. Our new "language learning" YouTube series is dedicated to all those bilingual toddlers and kids who are simultaneously building vocabularies in more than one language. 

In the language learning series, you'll find TuTiTu's "toys come to life" beloved videos for toddlers, edited to include the names of each toy in more than one language. The first episode presents the toys in English, then in Spanish, which makes it a great learning tool for kids learning Spanish OR English. If you'd rather hear the Spanish name first, stay tuned- there's a video in the pipeline that would do just that ;) 

To help the child remember all those new words, we also invite you to complement watching the video with some fun and games: play our free online games for kids, and refer to the items on the screen in their English/Spanish name - depending on which language you're trying to teach your child. Linking the words to an interactive experience can help the child remember the words better.   

In the near future, we will be releasing similar videos for each of the 13 languages TuTiTu is currently available in, including Chinese, Japanese, French, Russian, Arabic, Portugese, German and Italian.  

Thoughts? Comments? 

Let us know what you & the toddlers think of the new series!