What to do when your child develops weird habits

Besides tics, some children develop ritualistic or compulsive behaviours, such as not leaving the house without their favourite toy. Photo: Unsplash/Leo Rivas

Sometimes kids will suddenly develop an unusual habit, like constantly tugging on their hair or sucking on their sleeves. For parents, it can be a source of embarrassment and general confusion.

However, it's nearly impossible to stop such behaviour, says Veit Roessner. "A tic is like a hiccup - a sudden movement that repeats itself and cannot be controlled voluntarily," explains the professor of child and adolescent psychology in the German city of Dresden.