For a certain demographic (mainly ages 4-14), 2017 was the Year of the Fidget Spinner. This transfixing spinner mesmerized many a good portion of the year, showing up in classrooms, parks and dinner tables alike. One thing seemed clear: kids were satiated by the sensation of this toy spinning in their hands.

Just as nature seems to be an essential input (a nutrient), movement, too, is essential to humans. As a biomechanist studying human movement and how it relates to health and human development, I work to break down all the ways movement moves us — the elements of movement. Just as a diet includes the need for a range of macro and micronutrients, a movement diet requires all parts of the body be moved in various ways. Without well-distributed movements, parts of us can have a movement-nutrition deficiency. A good example of this is our underused hands.

Compared to other parts, hands are extremely complex in anatomy that facilitates diverse movements. From subtle movements at the skin and nerve level, to the numerous joints and muscles that facilitate fine motor skills, and the large-force grasping and hanging motions we have the potential to do, hands are built to facilitate quite a range of motion. But these days, the bulk of our hand-movement experiences are primarily comprised of writing with one hand, typing, and swiping. It’s no wonder children gravitated this year toward something to keep their under-moved hands stimulated.

Read the full article about fidget spinners and idle hands by Katy Bowman at Children & Nature Network.