title: firstElementChild doesn't work in Internet Explorer 7...what are my options?
body: <p>Consider the JavaScript below:</p>
  
  <pre><code>var v;
  if (this.children.length &gt; 0) {
      v = this.firstElementChild.value;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This works in modern versions of FireFox and Chrome but <code>this.firstElementChild.value</code> throws an exception in Internet Explorer 7-8.  Is there another way for me to get this to work for all browsers?  </p>
  
  <h2><strong>UPDATE -- FINAL SOLUTION</strong></h2>
  
  <p>I went with the following:</p>
  
  <p><code>v = (this.firstElementChild || this.children[0] || {}).value</code> --Thanks to all.</p>