My 7 year old DD has developed a tic. Does anyone have experience?

[Meid]

She's been making a raspberry blowing noise and a tutting noise for a few months now. There is no particular pattern to when she does it.

At first I ignored it thinking it was attention seeking. But I have more recently asked her about it and she says she doesn't know why she does it.

I have a meeting with her teacher this week because she's been unhappy at school. There is also a bit of unsettlement at home (we may or may not be emigrating next year because DH may or may not be offered a contract abroad).

Should I ask the teacher if she does it in class? Or would I be best not to draw her attention to it?

I have no clue about tics!

Many thanks.
meid

This is much more common than I ever thought before MN, and I don't think it's anything to worry about. My DD used to have tics when younger when she was stressed or tired, and a friend's DS had them when going through reception class with a horrid teacher.

Best not to draw any attention to it IMO, just do your best to make her feel calmer if possible.

If it goes on for longer and you are still worried you could always talk to your GP for peace of mind.

My ds kept screwing his eyes up tight, but according to him, didn't know he was doing it. I even took him to the NHS walk in centre because I thought he may have conjunctivitis!!

I turned out to be just a little habit! After about a year it got less and less and then eventually stopped.

I should have a word with your gp or hv if it's worrying you. You don't have to take her with you.

try not to fret, I do think it's very common - ds,who is 11,blinks a lot when anxious,seems to be just a nervous habit

Hi Meid, the only experience I have had is with my DS (7)
He has in the past had a few different ones from sniffing his hands and fingers every few mins, raising and lowering one of his shoulders continually and more recently twisting his fingers round and wiggling them.(which his teaching has commented on)

They last for about 6 months then it goes and sometimes a new one starts in its place or nothing for a while then a new one.

I have tried both talking about it and ignoring it but find the best thing is distraction to break the habit, so in the case of the twisting fingers, giving him something to hold or holding his hand when he started to do it, his teacher did this too which has really helped.
This seems to have stopped now.

How long had your DD been doing it for?

My mum says that all my brothers had this to some extent and it eventually just disappeared.

my friends dd 7 has a tic where she flashes her hands and opens her mouth really wide at the same time ,no set pattern to it and she doesnt even realise shes doing it. she has just been diagnosed boardaline dyspraxic and has bad dyslexia.

Thank you for the responses.
Its interesting and definitely reassuring to hear other people's stories.
Much appreciated.

My dd1 whos now 11 has always had one tic or another, at the moment its a hen type movement with her head. Randomly, and she doesnt know she is doing it.
I mentioned it to my best friend the other day, she hadnt even noticed..but now ive mentioned it...

It probably is a kind of anxiety - My 7 year old has funny ways too, scratching her coat when she puts it on, washing her hands in a particular way, dressing ina certain orderl