The Guardian.com: “Children are increasingly finding it hard to hold pens and pencils because of an excessive use of technology, senior paediatric doctors have warned. An overuse of touchscreen phones and tablets is preventing children’s finger muscles from developing sufficiently to enable them to hold a pencil correctly, they say. “Children are not coming into school with the hand strength and dexterity they had 10 years ago,” said Sally Payne, the head paediatric occupational therapist at the Heart of England foundation NHS Trust. “Children coming into school are being given a pencil but are increasingly not be able to hold it because they don’t have the fundamental movement skills….”

“It’s easier to give a child an iPad than encouraging them to do muscle-building play such as building blocks, cutting and sticking, or pulling toys and ropes. Because of this, they’re not developing the underlying foundation skills they need to grip and hold a pencil.”

I cannot help but say, I told you so – it is not only kids who cannot hold pencils or pens and actually write on paper anymore – it is adults as well. And how many people do you know (excluding librarians please) who actually type – with two hand over a keyboard, using all their respective fingers (I am raising my hand but you cannot see me) – and I own so many pens that I am afraid of being shamed for what is considered an odd collection of otherwise “useless objects.” I actually use them daily to write real cards – to people I know – and to take notes – every day – but then – I am a librarian/researcher/knowledge manager – who does not own a phone that I can “swipe.” I have an 8 year old “smartphone” with whom I have an increasingly contentious relationship – but I digress. If people do not use the muscles in their hands, will they eventually be of no use (an unimaginable fate for some, most..of us?).