My son has been twitching his legs..?

Question

My son (4 1/2), has been twitching his legs. I noticed this I think last week. He does it when he's watching tv and when I ask him why he's doing that he says doing what? Its like he doesn't know that he's doing it. Is this a tic? should I be concerned about tourette syndrome? As I think about it he always moves his big toe in his shoe. He wears a hole in the sole of his shoe where his toe is. Is this a tic? Any advice would be great. Thank you.

Answer 1

I would call the doctor and ask him/her about it.

Answer 2

call a doctor. i think it would be more sporatic if it were Tourette, but im not sure

Answer 3

At 4 1/2 it could be a simple childhood tic disorder, but it could be tourettes.  

I would keep an eye on it, talk to the doctor at his next well child checkup.  To officially "be" tourettes, tics must be present for six months or longer.  

If he grows out of it, it's not tourettes, if he keeps doing it, it just might be.

Waiting isn't the easiest thing, but it's the best advice I can give.

Answer 4

Movement is organizing to the brain and improves focus.  It helps to wire the brain to work together...left brain  and right brain.  He is most likely moving to help him focus on whatever his mind is doing.  The reason he doesnt realize he is doing it, is because his mind is very focused...the body is amazing!  Very common and nothing to worry about.  If in the future, it interferes with his schooling, you can provide things like 'figit' balls or even special discs to put in school chairs that allow movement by the child that doesnt disrupt the class.  Most Teachers are familiar with the need to move in order to organize.

by the way, swinging is a way children trigger learning skills in language.  Jumping, same thing.  Skipping helps children to learn to read by using both sides of the body, much like a child that crawls.  Reading requires the eyes to cross over the "midline", and full body movements help to enable this.