How to Tickle Your Date

Just like Tickle Me Elmo, it's hard not to laugh. Whether you're breaking the ice or getting frisky, playful tickles can light a fun smile and create intimacy at the same time. Want to try? Here's the right way.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fingers (all 10)
• Sense of Humor
• Willing Partner

1. Ask your partner if they're ticklish, and don't believe them if they say no. Everyone is, both female and male, whether they admit it or not. But 3 out of every ten people are seriously uncomfortable being tickled. So if they say they hate it, listen. It's not fun for some.

2. Tell your partner you're going to tickle them. Keep them guessing when. Just being threatened with a tickle makes us involuntarily smile and even laugh. That's because half the tingle of a tickle comes from thinking about and expecting to be tickled.

3. Move closer, and keep your hands and fingers moving. Psychologists rank tickling as the fifth and highest form of social play. Tease a little. Don't focus on where you're going to tickle. Knowing exactly where we'll be tickled actually makes us less ticklish. That's the main reason we can't tickle ourselves.

4. If they run, chase. Wasn't that one of the best parts of childhood? It's still a lot of fun, and physically sexy, too. If they really dislike being tickled, that's as far as you should go.

5. When you catch them, tickle with your finger tips, pushing firmly, but not hard, somewhat stronger than when you type. Adjust until you get the strongest reaction. Despite what you may see in the movies, a light tickling touch is rarely pleasant. That's because nerves have two different tickle settings. A light, feather-like touch feels like a spider or fly has landed, and triggers a reflex reaction to get them off. A firm tickle makes uncontrollable laughter. Keep your fingers moving, exciting a fairly small area, then try another spot. Try above or behind the knees, under the arms, under the chin, and on the sides of the ribs.

Tips & Warnings

• Let them up for air! It's not fun being unable to catch your breath.
• Tickling should be fun, keep it light. It can be an interesting part of dating.
• If it leads somewhere, well, that's another article. Researchers say tickling creates bonds. For most of us, tickles were also part of close relationships and happy times when we were young.
• Don't surprise tickle. It can startle and create a panic reflex, not fun.
• Because tickling stimulates the nerves in our skin that feel pain as well as touch, it can be very uncomfortable for some--they're not kidding.

[8trigrams00]

on 6/30/2009 my girlfriend loves to be tickled!

[stevemar2]

on 1/26/2009 Neat article! I wish I could find a date who would want to be tickled.

[ashiflett]

on 8/10/2008 Thanks for sharing!