Just a quick example:

<p>

    <span class=example></span>

    <input type=text name=e_name id=e_id />

</p>

<script type=text/javascript>

    $('input').click(function(){

        $(this).parent().children('span').text('Suprise!');

    }

</script>

What can I use instead parent().children()?

I think it's a bit inelegant piece of code.
Is any function i.e : $(this).fun('span').text('just better'); ??