Get first child ID
<html> <head> <script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-1.3.2.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function(){ $("#container").click(function (e) { var $ch = $(e.target).children(); $("#results span:first").text($ch.length); e.preventDefault(); return false; }); }); </script> </head> <body> <body> <div id="container"> <div> <p>This <span>is the <em>way</em> we</span> write <em>the</em> demo,</p> </div> </div> <span id="results">Found <span>0</span> children in <span>TAG</span>.</span> </body> </html>