[KatyD Posts: 904 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

Have you ever heard the expression: "Who turned over your tickle box?" Would your 3-6 year old understand its meaning?

Thanks!

Katy

[CaroleB]

Hey Katy,
I'm older than 3-6 and I don't get it. Never heard of it before. 

[AmyD Posts: 159 Status: Offline WWW]

No, never. And I have 4 kids between 3-10. What exactly does it mean?

[KatyD Posts: 904 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

Ha! Thanks, Carole. I was thinking it might be a southern thing. Or maybe just a I'm-showing-my-age old fashioned thing. 

[JennaWren Posts: 2,231 Status: Offline WWW]

Huh. I've never heard of it either....

[KatyD Posts: 904 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

When we were kids (somewhere back in the Ice Ages), I remember when we would get to laughing uncontrollably as kids often do, parents/relatives/adults would say, "What turned over your tickle box?"

K

[kathym44]

I've never heard this expression. I teach this age group & don't think they would understand it.

[Marissa Doyle Posts: 3,731 Status: Offline Charles Bewitched: out now! WWW]

Nope, this New England woman of a certain age has never heard that expression. 

[LeslieG Posts: 220 Status: Offline WWW]

It's a new one to me, too.

[CaroleB]

Ha! Thanks, Carole. I was thinking it might be a southern thing. Or maybe just a I'm-showing-my-age old fashioned thing. 

Well, I ain't no (yes, I said "ain't no") spring chicken, KatyD.

[Lill Posts: 652 Status: Offline]

It's new to me too, and I grew up in the Deep South.

[Jaina Posts: 2,908 Status: Offline Just keep typing, just keep typing . . .]

I live in the Shallow South and I've never heard it, either. 

[Rachel Posts: 232 Status: Offline WWW]

I've never heard it either!

[amberturner Posts: 151 Status: Offline WWW]

What a hoot. My grandmother (in Alabama) used to say this a lot. I have not heard it in a long time, though.

It also made me think of something else she used to say..."Do you need to go to the tinkle box?"

[KatyD Posts: 904 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

Lill--I was sure, SURE, that you, if anyone, would have known the expression. 

Amber--I'm glad at least someone's heard of it, but I'll have to rethink that line in my ms, for sure.

K

[Liz Straw Posts: 1,084 Status: Offline That was a yummy book!]

I've heard it, but it was a looong time ago.  Grew up in Northern Indiana.  Entire family did, except for two years we lived in NJ.

 

[Anne Marie Posts: 3,025 Status: Offline VAMPIRINA has arrived on Disney Junior! WWW]

Never heard it.

[ruecole Posts: 475 Status: Offline MG Writer WWW]

My dad say "tickle buttons" to refer to the ticklish spots, but I haven't heard "tickle box" yet. But I kind of got the idea from the context what it was. Like those baby dolls you used to flip over and they'd say "mama" or cry. Not sure if kids today would be that astute.

Rue

[nealwriter Posts: 5 Status: Offline]

I have never heard it but it's a good expression. I think you should still use it in your puce, especially if you give some context clues. At least it's not cliche.

[Lill Posts: 652 Status: Offline]

I've heard giggle box but not tickle box.  And now that I think of it "giggle box" was used in much the same way as you describe tickle box. Who turned on your giggle box? Although, I think someone could also be called a giggle box. You're such a giggle box.

[Tamilyn Posts: 243 Status: Offline Fiery Pegasus]

KatyD, I'm with nealwriter. It's absolutely clear what it means to anybody of any age (even though most of us haven't heard it before). Go ahead and use this awesome phrase: it'll be a fresh and immediate image to kids hearing it for the first time and might have deeper regional/generational resonances for older readers. 

[KatyD Posts: 904 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

Thanks, Tamilyn--and nealwriter!  I might just go for it.

[Vijaya Posts: 8,465 Status: Offline LISTEN. Let all mortal flesh keep silence ... WWW]

I've never heard of tickle box but I love it. I think kids will get it from the context.
Vijaya (who is extremely ticklish)

[Eric Hammond Posts: 56 Status: Offline WWW]

Both my parents and all my relatives were from Alabama, and I've heard it.

[DonnaE Posts: 197 Status: Offline life is too short to wear pantyhose. WWW]

Oh yeah. The tickle box! That was a running expression at our house. "Who turned your tickle box upside down?"

[KatyD Posts: 904 Status: Offline www.katyduffield.com WWW]

Well, I'm glad to know that I'm not crazy and that some people, do, in fact, use that expression. 

[writermom Posts: 2,111 Status: Offline Wishin' and hopin']

My mom said giggle box. Maybe it's justva Texas expression.

[Cassandra Posts: 2,096 Status: Offline]

I never heard it but I love it. I don't know if kids that young would figure it out on it's own, but I'm sure in context they will understand enough of it's meaning to follow the story the first time through. It's a delightful, fun, phrase, and so totally you!

[ButterflyGirl Posts: 510 Status: Offline @kidlitSarah sarahfloydbooks.com]

Nope, never heard the expression -- but it's very cute.  I think it would be easy to understand in context.  I used to be a regular on a local (San Francisco) children's TV show called, "The Git Box Tickle."   The name made no sense, but we sure had fun.