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Beyond Laughter
The Hidden Power of Tickling
By Mark Stackpole
An innocent little "zerbert" is an example of all that is good about tickling. If handled appropriately, tickling can indeed be a fun way for children and adults to communicate about touching and the importance of personal space. If these basic rules of respect are not honored, then tickling can easily get out of hand, which can have some long-term detriments for a child.
Ultimately, Smith's children enjoy this kind of play, just not by her – it's their father who handles the tickling duties. "I think they are looking for more roughhousing play from him and more snuggly, gentle play from me," she says. "I don't know if that's what they learned we would give them, or if that's what they naturally preferred. I'm not sure it matters."
"Tickling can be a pleasurable way to engage and experience laughter and playfulness," Panaccione says. 
"Physical contact with a child is a very personal matter that must be geared to the individual needs, desires and sensitivities of the individual. Some children love the contact, while others find it terribly intrusive."
Panaccione admits that she loved to hear her son laugh and would tickle him if she had not yet heard that "music to her ears." Of course, the rule was that she would stop immediately if there was any indication that it was no longer enjoyable for him.
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