By Emily Reid, MOT, OTR/L | Three23 Therapy

Your child suddenly starts blinking excessively, jerking their head, making unusual sounds, or repeating movements that seem completely out of their control.

At first, you might wonder if it’s just a habit. But as the movements or sounds continue, you start asking questions.

Why is this happening? Is something wrong? Will it get worse? Will it eventually go away? And most importantly, what can I do to help?

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

As an occupational therapist specializing in tic disorders and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), I work with children, teens, and adults who experience tics.

And one thing I want parents to understand is this: You don’t have to panic, but you also don’t have to feel powerless.

Tics are involuntary movements or sounds that can change in frequency and intensity over time. Some children experience temporary tics that eventually resolve, while others develop persistent tic disorders or Tourette Syndrome.

Although we can’t always predict how tics will progress, there are practical steps you can take to support your child’s brain, body, and overall well-being.

If my own child or teen developed tics, here are five things I would start doing right away.

1. Prioritize sleep and establish a consistent daily rhythm

Sleep would be one of the first areas I’d take a look at.

Why? Because sleep difficulties and fatigue can influence tic severity in some children, and poor sleep can also affect emotional regulation, attention, and stress tolerance, which can all impact tic presentation.

I’d start by looking at the basics.

• Is my child getting enough sleep for their age?
• Are they going to bed and waking up around the same time?
• Are screens interfering with their ability to wind down?
• Are they getting enough natural light and movement during the day?

I’d establish a consistent bedtime routine, reduce stimulating activities before bed, and create an environment that supports quality sleep.

For children ages 6–12, the general recommendation is 9–12 hours of sleep per night. Teenagers ages 13–17 typically need 8–10 hours.

I’d also pay attention to whether my child struggles to fall asleep, wakes frequently, snores, or seems exhausted despite getting adequate hours.

What about magnesium or red light therapy?

These are topics parents frequently ask about. I’m always a fan of trying excellent quality supplements and bio-hacks if you speak to your provider first. The dosage for supplements will vary by age and weight. If you really want to understand their nutrient levels, getting labs drawn is key, but we’ll chat about that in a little.

My goal wouldn’t be to create a complicated bedtime routine. It would be to establish consistency and give my child’s nervous system the opportunity to rest and recover…yes, even on the weekends.

2. Take a closer look at nutrition and gut-brain health

Nutrition is another area I’d pay attention to early.

Our brains require a consistent supply of nutrients to support normal neurological function, energy regulation, and overall health. Research shows over 95% of teenagers do not meet their daily nutritional needs. If you have a picky eater at any age, there’s a good chance they’ve got some big nutritional gaps.

If my child developed tics, I’d start by evaluating what they’re eating ASAP.

Are they getting enough protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats? Are they skipping meals? Are they consuming large amounts of caffeine or energy drinks?

I’d focus on incorporating more whole foods, maintaining consistent meals, and ensuring adequate hydration. My favorite book on gut-health and neuro-developmental disorder is Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician’s Guide to Whole Child Resilience by Dr. Elisa Song

I’d also pay attention to digestive symptoms such as constipation, abdominal discomfort, or significant food sensitivities. Diving deep into gut health is a whole topic we could cover in depth, but Tiny Health makes it very simple. I’ve done this over the counter gut health test on my 3 year old (neuro-typical, but preemie) son who shows intermittent tics. We’ve seen great improvements in his gut health since implementing the protocol they recommended.

Tiny Health is an at-home gut microbiome test that analyzes the bacteria and other microorganisms in your child’s digestive system. It provides insights into microbial diversity and offers personalized recommendations to support gut health. Because of the gut-brain connection, this information may be interesting to explore, although research is still emerging and microbiome testing has not been proven to identify the causes of tics or guide tic treatment. Use my code: REF-EMILYR8586 for $40 off

What About Inflammation, Food Dyes, Dairy, and the Gut Microbiome?

One area I encourage families to explore is how nutrition and gut health may influence their child’s overall health and potentially their tics.

We know that diets high in added sugars and heavily processed foods can contribute to inflammation and poor metabolic health. Artificial food dyes are another ingredient I prefer to limit/completely eliminate. Dairy is also worth exploring, especially if a child experiences digestive discomfort, sensitivities, or other symptoms after consuming it. However, dairy isn’t inherently inflammatory for everyone.

Here’s my perspective: Don’t just guess. Pay attention, experiment thoughtfully, and see how your child’s body responds.

For some families, that may mean trying a structured 4–6 week elimination of a suspected dietary trigger, then carefully reintroducing it while tracking symptoms. I would start with reducing or eliminating added sugars and artificial dyes rather than eliminating several major food groups at once. Dairy elimination should be considered individually.

The gut-brain connection is another fascinating area of research. Our gut microbiome communicates with the brain through multiple pathways, and researchers are continuing to investigate how these interactions may influence neurological health.

While dietary changes aren’t a proven treatment for tic disorders, I believe nutrition deserves attention as part of a comprehensive approach to supporting the brain and body. A thoughtful trial may help identify individual food sensitivities, although changes in tics alone don’t prove a food was responsible because tics naturally fluctuate over time. I’ve seen some incredible changes in some of my clients with dietary changes!

My approach is simple: Nourish the body, look for patterns, and make intentional changes based on how your child responds.

3. Make intentional movement part of every day

Movement would be another priority.

And I’m not just talking about running around outside or making sure my child gets enough exercise.

I’d look for opportunities to incorporate purposeful, developmentally appropriate movement throughout the day.

For younger children, this might include riding a bike, navigating an obstacle course, climbing, swimming, or playing catch.

For teenagers, it could be strength training, walking, swimming, sports, yoga, or other physical activities they genuinely enjoy.

Movement supports physical health, sleep, mood, and emotional regulation. Some individuals also notice that their tics decrease temporarily during certain activities, although this varies from person to person.

I particularly like activities that involve coordination, balance, rhythm, and motor planning because they provide opportunities to practice body awareness and develop motor skills. Coordination movement activities can help organize the brain for improved regulation of the nervous system. A regulated nervous system may also include a reduction of tics

And I’d make it enjoyable. The last thing I would want is for my child to feel that every activity has become another form of treatment.

4. Start tracking tics and looking for patterns

This is something I encourage families to do, especially when tics are new or changing. Tics are rarely identical from one day to the next. You might notice that your child barely tics while playing outside but experiences frequent tics while watching television. Or maybe tics increase during stressful school weeks, after poor sleep, or when your child is especially excited.

That doesn’t necessarily mean those situations are causing the tic disorder. It means different internal and external factors may influence how tics are expressed.

If my child developed tics, I’d start keeping a simple record of:

• The movements or sounds I’m noticing.
• When they first appeared and how they change.
• Whether they’re causing discomfort, pain, embarrassment, or interference with daily activities.
• What was happening around the time tics increased or decreased.
• Sleep, stress, excitement, and other relevant patterns.

I’ve created a Tic Tracker you can download and use at home. Download below.

I wouldn’t obsessively monitor every movement or ask my child to report every tic. In fact, drawing excessive attention to tics can be frustrating and may temporarily increase them for some people.

Instead, I’d take a curious, neutral approach. The goal is to collect useful information, not make my child feel like they’re constantly being watched. This information can also be valuable when speaking with your child’s healthcare provider or beginning CBIT therapy.

5. Talk to their pediatrician and learn about evidence-based treatment options

Finally, I wouldn’t ignore new tics or automatically assume they’re something my child will outgrow. I’d schedule an appointment with their pediatrician to discuss what I’m observing. Your child doesn’t necessarily need to be a part of the conversation unless they’re already aware of the tics or they’re clearly interfering with their life. If the child has no awareness of the tics, keep it a private conversation for now.

A healthcare provider can evaluate the movements or sounds, consider other possible explanations, and determine whether additional assessment is necessary. I would use videos to show the provider what you’re seeing at home.

I’d also ask about common co-occurring concerns, including ADHD, OCD symptoms, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and challenges at school.

Would I request bloodwork?

Probably, but not automatically.

There is no routine blood test that diagnoses Tourette Syndrome or other tic disorders. In many cases, a clinical history and examination are sufficient for a clinical diagnosis, but that doesn’t answer your questions of HOW? and WHY?

If my child developed tics without an obvious medical history or developmental timeline, I would request bloodwork. I wouldn’t order broad laboratory panels simply because tics appeared. I have a whole section of lab testing in my 68-page e-book, Empower Your Brain & Body: Practical Tools for Managing Tics. You can purchase here and literally bring the lab page to the pediatrician to discuss which labs would be helpful to look into.

And I would learn about CBIT therapy

This one might be obvious, since I’m a CBIT therapist, but a lot of people aren’t educated on it’s strong evidence for reducing tics!

CBIT stands for Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics. It’s an evidence-based treatment that teaches people to recognize their urge to tic then develop and implement a specific competing response, and identify situations or factors that may influence their tics.

One of the things I love most about CBIT is that it provides children and teens with practical skills they can use in everyday life. Rather than simply telling someone to stop ticcing, CBIT teaches them how to respond differently when a tic or premonitory urge occurs.

Not every child with a new tic needs immediate treatment. But when tics are painful, disruptive, emotionally distressing, or interfering with everyday activities, CBIT should be considered before pharmaceutical medication.

And children don’t necessarily need to have awareness of their urges before exploring treatment. We work on developing that skill in sessions and between appointments. The family is usually very involved in this type of therapy.

When done correctly, you can see a 70-80% reduction in tics.

One More Thing: I Would Be Intentional About How I Respond to My Child’s Tics

This might be one of the most important things on the entire list.

I wouldn’t constantly point out my child’s tics, ask them to stop, or make every conversation about their movements or sounds.

I’d make sure they knew that having tics doesn’t change who they are, what they’re capable of, or how I see them.

I’d also encourage open conversations about how they’re feeling and whether the tics are bothering them.

If tics aren’t interfering with their life, sometimes the best thing we can do is provide support, monitor changes, and avoid making them the center of attention.

But if they’re struggling or want to learn how to control and reduce them, I want them to know and believe there’s something they can do. There’s a difference between accepting that your child has tics and helping them learn effective strategies to manage them.

We can do both.

You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out on Your Own

If your child or teen recently developed tics, remember that you don’t need to change everything overnight.

Start with the basics. Prioritize sleep, nourish their body, encourage movement, observe patterns, and connect with a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

And if you’re ready to better understand tics and explore practical strategies, I’ve created resources to help.

Explore My Tic Management Workbook

My 68-page digital workbook, Empower Your Brain & Body: Practical Tools for Managing Tics, explores tic disorders, possible triggers, sleep, sensory processing, nutrition, the gut-brain connection, and other factors that may influence overall well-being.

It’s designed to help parents and individuals with tics better understand the brain and body, explore practical tools, and make more informed decisions about managing tics.

Check out the Tic E-book

Interested in CBIT Therapy?

At Three23 Therapy, I provide individualized virtual CBIT therapy for children, teens, and adults, helping them develop awareness, practice competing responses, and build practical skills to manage their tics.

Learn More About CBIT Therapy

You can’t always control when tics appear, but you can take intentional steps to support your child and help them develop skills for managing the challenges they experience.

And that’s a powerful place to start.

Medical note: This article is educational and is not a substitute for individualized medical evaluation. Sudden unusual movements or sounds accompanied by weakness, confusion, altered awareness, or other concerning neurological symptoms warrant prompt medical assessment.