function smileySelect(event) { /* event.target = the actually clicked element event.currentTarget = the element that has the event handler When they are not equal we know the click was on a child of the .emoji element. Any child is valid since you only have the emoticon span elements inside the .emoji element. */ if (event.target != event.currentTarget) { let smiley = event.target; document.querySelector('#text').value += smiley.textContent; } }; <div id="wrapper"> <div class="bubble-container"></div> </div> <div class="emoji" onclick="javascript:smileySelect(event);"> <span title="Happy Face"> 😀 </span> <span title="Grinning Face"> 😃 </span> <span title="Grinning Face with Smiling Eyes"> 😄 </span> </div> <div id="sendCtrls"> <input type="text" placeholder="Your message here" id="text"> <button id="myBtn" style="width: auto;"> Send </button> <span title="Emoji" onclick="javascript:smiliesSH();"> 😃</span> </div>