Concerning daycare images show children with their mouths taped shut in yoga exercise

The NSW Department of Education has issued a warning against the practice which was a breathing exercise led by a yoga teacher.

A Sydney daycare centre has received a warning from the NSW Department of Education after concerning images emerged of children with their mouths covered with tape.

The toddlers at Heritage House in Wahroonga, on Sydney’s north shore, were participating in a breathing exercise as part of a yoga session last year.

No injuries were reported from the exercise which was meant to be relaxing, but the Department launched an investigation into the matter after concerns were raised by a parent.

“While no children were harmed in this incident, it was an inappropriate activity that should not have taken place in an early learning centre,” a spokesperson from the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority told news.com.au.

“A thorough investigation was immediately conducted and a compliance action issued to the approved provider, which remains on their record.” 

Concerning images have emerged of toddlers with their mouths taped shut for a breathing exercise at a Sydney daycare.

The centre said it 'a well-intentioned activity' and it has accepted the Department's warning and will not repeat the activity.

An external visitor was not running the yoga session, and the centre provided evidence to the Department that the mouth taping exercise has since been discontinued. 

In a statement, Heritage House told the Sydney Morning Herald: “It was a well-intentioned activity led by one of our educators, a yoga instructor.”

“We accept that the Department issued a warning and as a result we took steps to ensure that the activity was not repeated.”
Photos of the activity were shared on the centre’s parents app alongside a caption where an educator described the activity as “unique”.

“The children gathered for a unique lesson combining breathwork, gentle yoga, and the tape-mouth technique. Guided to focus on nasal breathing, they playfully mimicked animals in yoga poses, learning to breathe deeply and calmly through their noses, fostering early mindfulness,” they wrote, according to SMH.

A number of parents whose children attend the daycare threw their support behind the centre and its educators on Tuesday.

One parent told 7News: “They’ve always been very careful about the kids, their growth, their education, everything.”

Another said: “People are friendly, they seem engaged, kids are happy here.”
Mouth taping, specifically for adults prone to mouth breathing while sleeping, has become a recent trend on TikTok but concerns have been raised about the dangers of restricting airflow.

News.com.au has contacted Heritage House for comment.