<div></div> <div></div> <div><span>has child</span></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <div id="start"></div> <div></div> <p><button>Go to Prev</button></p>
var $curr = $("#start");
$curr.css("background", "#f99");
$("button").click(function () {
$curr = $curr.prev();
$("div").css("background", "");
$curr.css("background", "#f99");
});