Yawn facts for kids
A yawn is a special kind of reflex. It's when you take a big, deep breath, open your mouth wide, and then slowly breathe out. Sometimes it even makes a sound! When you yawn and stretch at the same time, it's called pandiculation. Everyone knows what a yawn looks like, but scientists are still trying to figure out exactly why we do it.
People often yawn when they are tired, feeling stressed, working too much, or just plain bored. Have you ever noticed that if someone near you yawns, you might feel like yawning too? This is called "contagious yawning." It's like a chain reaction! This "infectious" yawning happens in humans, but also in animals like chimpanzees and dogs. Cats also yawn and stretch, but not always at the same time.
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Why Do We Yawn?
Scientists have studied yawning for a long time, but they still don't know its exact purpose. Many ideas have been suggested, but none of them fully explain why so many different animals yawn.
Yawning and Tiredness
One common idea is that yawning helps us when we are tired. It might be a way for our bodies to wake up a little bit. Some people think it helps bring more oxygen to the brain, but this idea isn't fully proven.
Yawning and Brain Temperature
Another idea is that yawning helps cool down our brains. When we yawn, we take in a lot of cool air. This might help lower the temperature of our brain, especially when we are tired or stressed.
Contagious Yawning
Have you ever noticed that if one person yawns, others around them might start yawning too? This is called "contagious yawning." It's a very common thing! Back in 1508, a writer named Erasmus said, "One man's yawning makes another yawn."
How Contagious Yawning Works
Seeing someone yawn, hearing them yawn on the phone, or even just thinking about yawning can make you yawn. Scientists believe that special brain cells called mirror neurons might be involved. These neurons help us understand and imitate what others are doing. When you see someone yawn, your mirror neurons might activate, making you feel the urge to yawn too. This is similar to how we learn many things by imitating others, like learning to speak.
Yawning in Animals
Yawning isn't just for humans! Many different animals yawn. Because mammals have similar feelings and show them in similar ways, scientists believe that when animals look like they are yawning, they are probably doing the same thing we do.
Images for kids
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Research suggests that young children (under six) don't usually catch yawns from others.
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A soldier tries to hide his yawn in this painting by Oscar Bluhm called Wearisome conversation.
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A Crabeater seal yawning.
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A young Japanese macaque yawning.
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A Pony yawning.
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A Cat yawning.
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A male lion yawning.
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A Bengal tiger yawning.
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A Jaguar yawning.
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A Hippopotamus yawning.
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See also
In Spanish: Bostezo para niños
