Mothers often ask questions such as, "My child's eyes often blink. Is it itchy?" .

 

Perhaps they are called tics. A tic is a rapid, rhythmic, repeated body movement or vocalization. It is said that 10-20% of children experience some kind of tic, and it is by no means uncommon. Tics include motor tics such as blinking, shrugging, and grimacing, and vocal tics such as clearing the throat, sniffing, and grunting. The tics occur involuntarily, and the child himself feels that he cannot control the movement of the tics. (Sometimes you can control it to some extent if you choose.)

 

Although the exact cause is unknown, it is believed that children who are naturally predisposed to tics are more likely to develop tics when psychological factors such as stress overlap. The onset is most common between the ages of 4 and 11, and is most common between the ages of 6 and 7, around the time they enter elementary school. Children aren't doing tics on purpose, so if you tell them, "Stop!" or "You're doing it again! Why?"

 

The person who wants to stop the tics the most is the child himself/herself. In addition, most tics are transient and disappear in less than a year, so even if you leave them alone, they will gradually get better. Please refer to the “Advice on Coping” below to help your child enjoy school and home life.