Why do we yawn and what makes it feel contagious?

We yawn because our body wants to take a deep breath, and sometimes other people around us do it too, which makes us want to yawn as well.

Yawning is like when you're tired or sleepy, your mouth opens wide, and you pull in a big breath. It helps your brain get more oxygen, which can make you feel more awake or relaxed.

When someone yawns near you, it's like they're sending out a signal. Your brain sees this signal and thinks, "Oh, maybe I should yawn too!" Then your mouth opens wide, and you take in a big breath, just like them.

Sometimes, people who are close to you, like your friends or family, will start a yawning chain. One person yawns, then another, and soon everyone is yawning together! It’s kind of like when you're playing a game where one person starts a funny sound, and the next person copies it, before you know it, everyone is making that same sound.

So even though we don’t know exactly why we yawn or why it's contagious, it feels good, and it connects us to people around us.