Meaning: Children were happy and moving quickly in different directions.
Choice of Words: Kids is a common word for children, laughed describes the sound of amusement, ran means moved quickly, about indicates no specific direction.
Alternative Expressions
The children were merry and scampered hither and thither.
Meaning: This sentence means the same thing as the first sentence, but it uses more formal language.
Choice of Words: **Children** is another word for kids. **Merry** means happy and cheerful. **Scampered** is a more formal word for ran, which means to move quickly using your legs. **Hither** and **thither** are old-fashioned words that mean back and forth or in different directions.
The young ones giggled and darted to and fro.
Meaning: This sentence means the same thing as the first two sentences, but it uses more poetic language.
Choice of Words: **Young ones** is another way to say kids. **Giggled** is a more informal word for laughed, which means to make a happy sound. **Darted** is a more poetic word for ran, which means to move quickly using your legs. **To and fro** means back and forth.