To speak to school about a game of Chubby Bunny?

[ChubbyBunny12]

NC for this as I’m not sure if I’m being a bit OTT here and want some perspective!
DS came home from school today and told me they had been playing Christmas party games, one of these was Chubby Bunny. For those of you who don’t know, it involves stuffing as many mallows as possible into your mouth and trying to say ‘chubby bunny’.
There has been at least one death in America of a child playing this game and the whole thing just seems like a very bad idea to me? AIBU to speak to school about this? I feel awful as the games were organised by volunteers (teachers were present) but I’m not sure it’s something I can let go without mentioning in case it happens again!

Considering a lot of schools have banned playground games like red rover too I'm really surprised at this

Also, I doubt the assertion that one or two people have died playing this game over 20 years worldwide could be proven. Who is gathering the statistics? A death certificate will state choking as the cause of death, not necessarily on what, and almost certainly not the specific circumstances of the death. Deaths from RTCs can be quantified fairly accurately because huge amounts of data are collected on the subject but I don't think the same can be said of chubby bunny related deaths. Obviously it isn't common but it may not be as rare as people are saying as there is no guarantee that all such deaths have been reported as such.

How many times has this game been played? I've never heard of it before, so I can't believe it's millions.

If you feel that strongly about it, then say something. How old is your child? I expect there are more dangers on the playground than playing the daft game & I’m sure you wouldn’t want your child to not have playtime running around outside.

YANBU- I assumed it was a moral panic/OTT at first, but googled and you're right, it's dangerous. One of the cases was a death of a 12 year old from just 4 marshmallows, apparently.

Running around in the playground is beneficial. Cramming marshmallows into your mouth isn't.

@LaurieMarlow

Do you see all the people discussing car seats? The safest ones, the change in age and height guidance. All of that has reduced the danger.

Is there anyway to reduce the danger in this game? No. There isn't.

I didn't realise that death certificates stated "death by chubby bunny". I tough they said "choking". We wouldn't know how that choking happened unless it made the papers.

We dont have figures on this game. We do have figures on choking. They are the most relevant.

When I was in primary school, a classmate died choking in our lunch room. It was 25 years ago and I still jaunt forgotten it. This is an idiotic, dangerous, disgusting game with absolutely no point to it, no need for it to happen and just shows a spectacular lack of understanding of danger to children. Not just in that moment but also when they are at home and remember the fun they had so they give it a go alone or with friends. Absolutely stupid.

I was knocked down by a car at 15. Couldn't play my cello for 7 months due to the injury. I dont feel the same hatred for driving, because it's a totally different situation. Totally different thing with completely different needs, laws and safety regulations.

TBH, the more I think about it, competing to shove as much food into your mouth as possible and seeing if you can still talk afterwards is a dangerous, stupid game to play. There is a real risk of choking, especially with mallows.

People die from choking all the time by accident through normal eating. This game shouldn't be compared with driving, I think it should be compared with teenagers getting pissed and deciding to have a spontaneous car race on the public roads.

I don't allow my children to play this game as I think it's just inviting a choking death.

I might be lax on some things but not this.

Choking is common enough that most of us here will have known of it happening to someone we know. My brother's classmate (sister of one of my friends) died from choking on a piece of meat when she was eight. My mother in laws' neighbour's toddler died choking on a grape at her childminders.

This game is insane. As others have said, there's no way a Heimlich manouevre or any other first aid, could shift a marshmallow from the windpipe. I'm not a 'that parent' but I'd definitely contact the school had my child come home saying it had been played there.

A similar game used to be eating as many dry crackers as possible. A friend's disabled sister died from choking and it was so traumatic and guilt triggering for the entire family.As a first aider it's one of the thing I absolutely dread at any event.I'd gently address it with the school, another angle is checking whose insurance covers the activity and that can be an eye opener for the school.

Whoever organised this was a bit irresponsible to say the least,are they going to wait until someone chokes before they put a stop to it?

I honestly can't tell whether the above post is ironic or not.

This is the first time I've heard of this game, and am shocked to realise how dangerous it is.

Also, most marshmallows (definitely the cheap ones) contain gelatine, which makes them unsuitable for vegetarians and Muslims.

Just that would be enough to suggest that it's a ridiculous game for the school to introduce children to.

JamieVardysHavingAParty if it’s not ironic they’re already on xmas hols from the private school😆

...but I assume it’s ironic...

Well, on first reading of your post I thought you were a bit of a party pooper! And over cautious. But now I've had time to think, the game actually really worries me and yes, I think you should mention to school.

My DS is 8 and is exactly the sort of kid who would volunteer for this sort of thing straight away! He's also extremely competitive, so I could see him thing to 'cheat' by swallowing marshmallows to make room for more to be stuffed in his mouth. That is a scary thought...

"Choking is common enough that most of us here will have known of it happening to someone we know."

that's a good way of putting it.

I've seen a (very skilled and experienced) nursery nurse (who happens to have a severely disabled brother and hence more experience than most nursery nurses) calmly remove an item from a child's throat on a school trip and it was a long long long two and a half minutes. It's worth cutting the grapes in half and ditching the marshmellows just to avoid that.

@Lulualla

“ Driving is the second highest cause of death in agre 5-14. Choking is the highest.”

Says who please?

OP, I don’t think YABU because marshmallows can be a risk. I think you’re right to have concerns.

I think you can mention it while still being grateful for the time of the volunteers and complimenting them on a great party etc.

@Schuyler
The article one of the posters above me posted. It said "driving is the second highest cause of death for kids aged 5 to 14".

And for the choking., various sources. Here's one
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100226212559.htm

I could be wrong, but when you look up choking it's called the biggest cause a lot.

There’s a bit of scaremongering going on. I would definitely be concerned but not to the level of some people. I’d not want my child doing this, especially not a child of primary age.

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