Where does your body bend?

Wiggle your fingers. Now reach down and touch your toes, then stand up tall. Your body can fold and stretch so easily!

Some parts of you fold, and some parts stay stiff and straight. So where does your body bend? Let's find out together.

Inside your body are bones. Bones are hard, like strong sticks. Because a bone is so hard, it cannot bend. That is how bones hold you up.

Your arm and leg each have more than one bone. Where one bone ends, the next bone begins. That meeting place is called a joint, which means a spot where two bones join together.

At a joint, the two bones can move. Some joints swing like a door on its hinge. That swinging is what lets you fold and stretch.

Your knee is a joint, right in the middle of your leg. It bends so you can sit, climb and kick a ball.

Your shoulder is a joint too. It lets your whole arm swing round in a big circle. Your arm also folds in the middle. What do you think is hiding there?

Another joint, called your elbow! Your elbow folds your arm so your hand can reach your mouth. That is how you bring a spoon up to eat.

Your fingers have little joints too, three in each finger. Each finger can curl up, bit by bit. That is how you hold a crayon or grab a cup.

Your neck has joints as well. They let you nod your head. They also let you turn to look at a bird in a tree.

Joints. Your body bends at your joints, where two hard bones meet and move.

Rest well now, and let all your busy joints have a cozy, quiet sleep.