Will my children copy their cousin's tic?

[orangebee1]

My 7 yo. niece has recently developed a tic - it's a very violent tic where she throws her head backwards with force. It's so severe that she had to be taken immediately to do an MRI and various other tests, but it's been concluded that it is a tic and nothing else. We are supposed to get together at Christmas, but i'm really worried that my 8yo and 6 yo DDs might mimic this tic. My DD already has a very slight tic with her mouth and i fear she may be influenced by seeing her niece. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Your DC are old enough to have the tic explained to them and why their cousin can’t help it and they shouldn’t be worried or try and copy it.

Nope, nothing to be concerned about here. These children can be taught how to behave appropriately.

My DD already has a very slight tic with her mouth and i fear she may be influenced by seeing her niece

Surely if your own DD has a tic you’ll understand how your niece can’t help it, and how embarrassed and self conscious she may be feeling about having a tic?

I think the best thing you can do it talk to your DDs about it before you see your niece, so that they’re aware and aren’t unkind to her, or try to mimic her.

Interesting tics seem to run in families, and there's likely to be a genetic cause in many cases, so please be kind and educate yourself and DDs.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/tics/

If your children do appear to pick up your nieces tics consider if they are just voluntarily copying her to be unkind.

Lots of people don’t understand tics or Tourette’s. Try and learn something about it before you visit. There’s plenty of unkindness in the world when you suffer with these conditions.

Tics can be picked up subconsciously, or maybe copied (echopraxia/echolalia).

If you have any concerns, PLEASE speak to a GP/neurologist.