Childhood habits like twisting or chewing hair, grinding teeth, tugging on ears, and nail biting sometimes are confused with tic behaviors. Nervous habits like these examples are controllable behaviors that develop in times of stress. They are common in school-aged children as they adjust to new routines, new schools, and new friendships. Nervous habits are often outlets for pent-up energy. Do not worry about them unless they are done compulsively. Sometimes a change of scenery, a gentle awareness discussion, or relaxation exercises will help break the habit. Childhood nervous habits usually stop when the child learns more effective ways of comforting himself while coping with stress.

Tics, on the other hand, are involuntary muscle movements that are physical problems, not psychological ones. Motor tics include eye blinking or squinting, shrugging the shoulders, grimacing, repetitive coughing or shaking the head. Vocal tics include tongue clicking, clearing the throat, sniffing, coughing, or saying words out of context. In rare cases, children may curse or say unpleasant things that they do not mean. These behaviors are not used to calm a child as with a nervous habit, because they are not in the child's control. While their presence may seem as if the child is experiencing stress, they generally are not direct responses to stress or anxiety. They can happen randomly.

Tics are inherited. One child in eight develops a tic. Boys get tics four times more often than girls. Tic behaviors may disappear after a few weeks or months. They may never come back or may reappear off and on. Tourette Syndrome is a more severe case of tics and can carry over into adulthood. These tics occur in multiple forms and can be suppressed for short times from minutes to hours. Doing so may make them worse for a while afterwards. These tics are affected by stress and disappear while sleeping.

Sometimes abnormal body movements, much like tics, represent a form of rheumatic fever or a neurologic problem. For this reason, whenever there are abnormal body movements, a health care provider should be consulted.

Never punish or shame a child for exhibiting tic behaviors or nervous habits. Children cannot stop their tic behaviors because they are involuntary. Talking about them or telling the child to stop does not solve the problem. Doing so may make them worse. Do not make a big deal out of the behaviors. Noticeable tic behavior should be explained to the child's teacher and other adults who see the child often. Discuss mild tic activity with your child's healthcare provider. Children with severe tics should see their doctor immediately.

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