The first time I saw a child with tics in my practice, I remember feeling a mix of curiosity and concern. As a licensed practitioner working with kids, I’ve since learned much about tics and how to support children who experience them. If you’re a parent or caregiver of a child with tics, know you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1 in 100 children in the United States has Tourette syndrome, a condition characterized by tics. Many more children experience tics without meeting the full diagnostic criteria for Tourette’s. Tics can be challenging for kids and families to cope with, but we can help in many ways.
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Understanding Tics
First, ensure we’re on the same page about tics. Tics are sudden, rapid, repetitive movements or vocalizations that a person wants to do. Common motor tics include eye blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head jerking. Vocal tics can involve throat clearing, grunting, sniffing, or saying words or phrases. Tics are involuntary, meaning the person doesn’t choose to do them and can’t easily suppress them. However, they may be able to delay a tic for some time.
Tics often emerge in childhood, typically between the ages of 5-7. Boys are affected more commonly than girls. While the exact cause of tics is unknown, research suggests a strong genetic component and potential environmental triggers. Tics can wax and wane in frequency and severity over time. Many kids experience a significant decrease in their tics by young adulthood.
Creating a Supportive Environment
One of the most important things we can do to help a child with tics is to create an accepting, low-stress environment. Here are some ways to do that:
- Avoid drawing attention to the tics. As much as possible, try not to react to or point out your child’s tics. Calling attention to the tics can increase anxiety and actually make them worse.
- Establish predictable routines. Kids with tics do better when they know what to expect. Aim for a consistent daily schedule around sleep, meals, and activities.
- Identify a safe space. Work with your child to designate a specific place at home or school where they can go if they need to release their tics. This could be a quiet corner of their room or a private area at school.
- Reduce overall stress. Stress and anxiety can significantly increase tics. Look for ways to keep daily stress low for your child. This might mean avoiding over-scheduling, allowing extra time for transitions, or practicing relaxation techniques together.
I once worked with an 8-year-old boy with significant motor tics that made it hard for him to sit still in class. We brainstormed ways to reduce his stress at school, like getting permission to take short movement breaks and having a subtle hand signal with his teacher when he needed to step out and “release” his tics privately. These small accommodations greatly impacted his ability to learn and feel comfortable at school.
Managing Anxiety and Emotional Triggers
Many kids with tics experience anxiety, either as a trigger for their tics or as a result of the social and emotional challenges that can come with having tics. One study found that over 30% of youth with tics had a co-occurring anxiety disorder. Here are some strategies to help a child with tics manage anxiety and emotional triggers:
- Help your child identify triggers. Keep a log to see if you notice any patterns around what makes your child’s tics worse – specific situations, sensory stimuli, or emotional states. Gaining this self-awareness can help them feel more in control.
- Teach coping and relaxation skills. Deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, and visualization exercises can help kids better regulate their anxiety and emotions. Practice these together when your child is calm so they’re easier to use in triggering moments.
- Allow tic releases. Recognize that it takes a lot of mental and physical effort for your child to suppress their tics. Let them know it’s okay to step away and release their tics as needed, ideally in a safe/private spot.
- Address perfectionistic tendencies. Many kids with tics hold to unrealistically high standards, increasing stress. Please encourage your child to tolerate minor mistakes and praise their effort more than the outcome.
Read more: Why Has My Child Suddenly Developed a Tic
Developing Competing Responses and Tic Substitution
While we can’t eliminate tics, we can help kids learn to manage them using behavioral strategies. Two well-researched approaches for how to help a child with tics are habit reversal training (HRT) and the Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). A key component of both is developing a “competing response” – a behavior to do instead of the tic that is incompatible with it. With practice, the competing response can reduce the frequency and intensity of tics.
For example, a child with a neck-jerking tic might be taught to gently turn their head in the opposite direction and hold it there for a minute when they feel the tic urge coming on. Or for a vocal tic of grunting, they could learn to take a slow, deep breath instead. A trained therapist can help your child identify helpful competing responses matched to their specific tics.
Another approach is called “tic substitution.” This involves replacing the tic with a less noticeable or more socially acceptable movement or sound. For instance, a child could squeeze a small stress ball in their pocket instead of ticking with a large arm movement. The goal is not to eliminate the tic sensations but to channel them in a way that is easier to control and draws less unwanted attention.
Disclosing Tics to Others
Your child might worry about how others react to their tics, especially in school or social settings. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, here are a few options to consider for disclosing tics:
- Choose who needs to know. Your child may feel comfortable with certain friends, family, or teachers knowing about their tics but not necessarily disclosing them to everyone. That’s okay – it’s a personal decision. Role-play potential conversations to help them feel prepared.
- Provide simple, matter-of-fact information. When explaining tics to others, stick to the basics: “I have a tic disorder, which means I make movements or sounds I can’t always control. It’s something my body does and isn’t contagious or dangerous.”
- Use humor (if it fits your child’s personality). Sometimes, light humor can put others at ease about tics. One teen I worked with liked to say, “Don’t mind me; I’m just over here doing my own interpretive dance!”
- Enlist help from adults. If your child wants teachers or other caregivers to help explain their tics to peers, provide them with accurate information to share. Some kids make a short presentation to their class about what tics are to preempt curiosity or teasing.
Remember, while dealing with other people’s reactions can be challenging, your acceptance and support as a parent or caregiver matters most. Let your child know that their self-worth is not defined by their tics or what others think of them.
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Living with tics can be frustrating and exhausting for kids and families alike. I hope this post has given you some useful strategies for how to help a child with tics create a supportive environment, manage stress and anxiety, develop behavioral tools, and handle social situations. It’s a process of trial and error to figure out what works best for your individual child. Be patient with the ups and downs and celebrate the many ways your child is so much more than their tics. With the right support and tools, kids with tics can absolutely thrive.
Helpful Resources:
- Tourette Association of America
- CBIT Parents – Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics
- Child Mind Institute
FAQ’s About How to Help a Child With Tics
What are some common tics in children?
Common tics in children include eye blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, head jerking, throat clearing, grunting, and sniffing.
How can I help my child manage their tics?
You can help your child manage their tics by creating a supportive, low-stress environment, teaching coping and relaxation skills, and working with a therapist on habit reversal training or tic substitution strategies.
Should I point out my child's tics when they happen?
It's best not to call attention to your child's tics when they occur, as this can increase their anxiety and make the tics worse.
Can stress make my child's tics worse?
Yes, stress and anxiety can significantly increase the frequency and severity of tics in children.
Will my child's tics go away?
Many children experience a significant decrease in their tics by young adulthood, but some may continue to have tics throughout their lives.
Emily is a seasoned blog writer for Goally, leveraging her extensive background in child psychology and special education to provide valuable insights and resources for parents. Her commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of these children, combined with her expertise in educational strategies, makes her a credible and empathetic voice for families.
