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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

… to be annoyed my son is missing break for yawning?

144 replies

DameBaggySmith · 14/05/2025 21:55

My 7 y o is missing break tomorrow for yawning in class. He can be prone to being distracted and the child sitting next to him was already told off. However, he informs me on this occasion, all he did was yawn. The teacher then asked him if he yawned, rolled her eyes at him then put his name down to miss break.

AIBU to think this is insane? Especially as a) they are only allowed access to water at break time which he often forgets and yawning can be a sign of dehydration and b) he's waiting for an ADHD assessment so giving him less chances to burn off energy isn't going to help.

Obviously there is a chance that my son isn't telling the whole truth… which I will investigate, but if he is, I think this is ridiculous.

OP posts:
PhaseFour · 14/05/2025 21:57

Genuine yawning is not something you can control - like sneezing. It's involuntary.
YANBU the teacher is BU.

Haveanaiceday · 14/05/2025 22:01

Well it depends how he yawned, as this could be done in a disrespectful way. I wouldn't get involved unless he has been missing break quite a few times. If it's happening regularly then I would be concerned that there is an issue, and ask to speak to the teacher about it, but I would still try to be constructive.

Unusualllly · 14/05/2025 22:01

Kid fake yawning or loud yawning to get a reaction from class mates = missed break.
Sleepy kid subtly yawning = does not sound like your kid, but I wasn't there so who knows?!

Shatteredallthetimelately · 14/05/2025 22:03

I suppose it depends on if it was an involuntary yawn or a really load messing about class clown one.. only the teacher and your DS really know which it was.

funinthesun19 · 14/05/2025 22:03

YANBU, and I think him not having a break will actually be counterproductive if the teacher wants him to not yawn.
Breaks are important for re charging and waking up a bit. Sitting in a classroom when he could be walking around outside/having a bite to eat etc.. isn’t going to stop him from yawning. Quite the opposite!

Motomum23 · 14/05/2025 22:06

I'm mot convinced a 7 year old can control even the loudness of their yawn - I distinctly remember being older before I discovered you could yawn without making that yawn sound!

Original poster
DameBaggySmith · 14/05/2025 22:08

Shatteredallthetimelately · 14/05/2025 22:03

I suppose it depends on if it was an involuntary yawn or a really load messing about class clown one.. only the teacher and your DS really know which it was.

Yes good point so i’ll check. He absolutely hates having attention on him, to the point that he won't raise his hand in class when he knows an answer, or do any activities involving him being on stage (nativity etc) so I doubt it was the latter.

OP posts:
Valkyrie3 · 14/05/2025 22:09

Definitely depends on the type of yawn. Kids are quite prone to doing this in class for laughs/disruption/undermining the teacher. Without video evidence you don’t know which type of yawn it was, but teachers don’t usually withhold break time for an innocent, quiet yawn.

Lifestooshort71 · 14/05/2025 22:09

The lack of water would worry me but not missing the break per se. You've heard your son's version of events and I'd be inclined it to think it wasn't a behind-the-hand yawn and that his behaviour may not have been perfect before it. Gosh, I wouldn't be a teacher these days ....

Ddakji · 14/05/2025 22:13

Goodness, it’s one break.

JMSA · 14/05/2025 22:14

It sounds to me like you’re going to have to pick your battles over the years.

Dinosweetpea · 14/05/2025 22:16

No 7 year old should miss break, esp one with ADHD. Utterly ridiculous.

Original poster
DameBaggySmith · 14/05/2025 22:23

Ddakji · 14/05/2025 22:13

Goodness, it’s one break.

Yes it is one break and as I say, perhaps he was in the wrong. However school seems to be increasingly rigid.

The children weren't allowed to run on the playground at one point this year.

No access to water is counter-productive.

And currently dealing with another issue where the children in after school club say they're currently not allowed to talk in case it is too loud for the staff.

It just all seems to be getting quite silly.

OP posts:
Original poster
DameBaggySmith · 14/05/2025 22:24

JMSA · 14/05/2025 22:14

It sounds to me like you’re going to have to pick your battles over the years.

What does that mean?

OP posts:
Ddakji · 14/05/2025 22:27

Well I’d prefer a school where the rules are clear and enforced. Then everyone knows where they are and it isn’t a free-for-all.

Original poster
DameBaggySmith · 14/05/2025 22:29

Ddakji · 14/05/2025 22:27

Well I’d prefer a school where the rules are clear and enforced. Then everyone knows where they are and it isn’t a free-for-all.

Except none of this has been communicated to the parents.

OP posts:
Slightyamusedandsilly · 14/05/2025 22:29

DameBaggySmith · 14/05/2025 21:55

My 7 y o is missing break tomorrow for yawning in class. He can be prone to being distracted and the child sitting next to him was already told off. However, he informs me on this occasion, all he did was yawn. The teacher then asked him if he yawned, rolled her eyes at him then put his name down to miss break.

AIBU to think this is insane? Especially as a) they are only allowed access to water at break time which he often forgets and yawning can be a sign of dehydration and b) he's waiting for an ADHD assessment so giving him less chances to burn off energy isn't going to help.

Obviously there is a chance that my son isn't telling the whole truth… which I will investigate, but if he is, I think this is ridiculous.

Your 7 year old said the teacher rolled her eyes at him? And has that clarity of recall over the events? That is a remarkably astute recollection of events for a 7 year old.

spoonbillstretford · 14/05/2025 22:32

I don't remember 7 year old missing break for things like this when I was at school, or even ten years ago when DD2 was that age. Schools seem to have lost a sense of perspective. No wonder there are behaviour issues, schools are actually creating them.

Trovindia · 14/05/2025 22:32

Ddakji · 14/05/2025 22:13

Goodness, it’s one break.

Goodness, it's one yawn.

Original poster
DameBaggySmith · 14/05/2025 22:36

Slightyamusedandsilly · 14/05/2025 22:29

Your 7 year old said the teacher rolled her eyes at him? And has that clarity of recall over the events? That is a remarkably astute recollection of events for a 7 year old.

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I don't personally think it is, especially as he is likely neurodiverse.

OP posts:
ChompinCrocodiles · 14/05/2025 22:36

Slightyamusedandsilly · 14/05/2025 22:29

Your 7 year old said the teacher rolled her eyes at him? And has that clarity of recall over the events? That is a remarkably astute recollection of events for a 7 year old.

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Have you met many 7 year olds? Because it's really not - it's a very basic and simple chain of events, which I'd expect most 7 year olds to be able to recall and tell someone.

And yes, many 7 year olds will be well aware when someone is rolling their eyes at them and what that means!

Strictly1 · 14/05/2025 22:36

Dinosweetpea · 14/05/2025 22:16

No 7 year old should miss break, esp one with ADHD. Utterly ridiculous.

What consequence should children have?

Parents want children who are well behaved in school whilst also not wanting their children to ever have a consequence but others to be publicly slogged or accuse school of never doing anything.

When parents phone and tell teachers their child isn’t having x y or z consequence, it completely undermines the profession. This term alone we’ve had one parent openly say I’ve told her she can do as she likes, one say we need to tell them if we want to speak to their child about an incident and another that has told peers that it’s okay, mum will phone and tell them (staff) off.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 14/05/2025 22:40

ChompinCrocodiles · 14/05/2025 22:36

Have you met many 7 year olds? Because it's really not - it's a very basic and simple chain of events, which I'd expect most 7 year olds to be able to recall and tell someone.

And yes, many 7 year olds will be well aware when someone is rolling their eyes at them and what that means!

Show quote history

I live with one. She wouldn't have a clue what an eye roll is. But would definitely be up for a deliberately loud and disruptive yawn (also ADHD). Has missed break and lunch play for behaviour issues.

SullysBabyMama · 14/05/2025 22:43

I once sent a child out of the classroom for breaking wind. I had quietened a boisterous class and he is a lovely boy but the class clown and dramatically leaned to the side as he broke wind loudly. It was clearly on purpose.
No doubt if he told the story he would say he was sent out of the class for farting. The responses would be that he is missing learning for a normal bodily function. He wouldn’t have been allowed to leave lesson to go to the bathroom to fart either so what else was he supposed to do. No one would fart loudly in front of their peers on purpose etc.
Except he did. He is a lovely boy and he made a wrong choice because he’s funny, and comedians often make wrong choices as jokes involved risk.

Watermelonsregularly · 14/05/2025 22:45

I'd be annoyed. He's 7 for goodness sake. I'm a neurotypical adult and would not cope well without being able to stretch my legs for a few hours. Let alone have a drink.