Most people will discover tickling through very simple means. A single poke in the ribs, a wiggling of fingers over armpits, a scrape of nails down feet - all simple little things which to many will be a single fleeting experience while for others it’ll be a gateway drug to a lifelong pursuit.

These first experiences may be basic but they’re also very, very effective. They need no restraints, can be performed anywhere anytime and don’t attract any undue attention. However here are some additional tips to get you started.

Firstly, when you’re starting out and finding your feet keep it light in both tickling and mood. As with all things in life it’s rare to get things perfect first time and it’s always better to start slow and get harder and faster as you find out what works for both you and your partner rather than causing pain by grabbing too hard.

Start with gentle sweeps with the fingers across feet, ribs, stomach, back, neck and armpits. Pay attention to your partner, listen for any giggles and watch for any twitches or jerks when you touch certain places. Make a mental note of what works and what doesn’t on a particular area.

Next, mix your light touches with gentle squeezes of ribs, knees and thighs. Again, at this point you’re after reactions rather than outright paralysis from laughter but don’t worry, that’ll come soon enough. Once you’re sure about those areas that react well to squeezing switch to a quick scrabbling motion on all those areas you’ve already visited. When doing this remember that nails can scratch as well as tickle so be careful, keep your nails in good condition and don’t spend too long on any one spot.

By now you should have at least some idea of what works and what doesn’t with your particular partner. Now it’s a simple case of going back to those spots, mixing up your techniques and increasing the strength, angle and speed of your touch. Remember, variety is the spice of life and everyone reacts differently, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

One final word on your basic techniques and first steps, remember that you are doing something that can cause very strong reactions in your partner. We strongly recommend reading the Playing Safe page as a companion piece but in short - take care of your partner, make sure you have a non-verbal way for them to let you know when to stop and remember that involuntary body movements can and probably will occur so make sure they’re not near anything sharp or breakable and that you don’t place any body part of yours in harms way unless you’re very sure of your reaction times.

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