Children experienced new or worsening tic issues when they were separated from their parents during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown.

Abstract

Decades of research have confirmed that children develop best when they are in safe, supportive, nurturing relationships (1). Positive relationships with parents are essential for children's growth, health and wellbeing (1,2), as they protect them and help them to regulate their emotions during stressful times. If children are unnecessarily and traumatically removed from their parents, their physical and mental health and wellbeing will suffer (1,2).