html - Javascript Checkbox Validation not Checking if Ticked -

i've looked through lot of questions people have asked on this, cannot find solution has helped me.

i'm beginner programming know little do, have 4 check boxes , submit form, have select @ least 1 of them, no message comes , form able submitted without 1 of boxes being ticked.

this code below:

        <tr>        <td align="right">         <label for="erdbeersocken"><p>erdbeersocken<sup>*</sup>:</label>         <br>         <label for="armstulpen">armstulpen<sup>*</sup>:</label>         <br>         <label for="cupcakes">cupcakes<sup>*</sup>:</label>         <br>         <label for="babykleidung">babykleidung<sup>*</sup>:</label>         <br>        </td>               <td align="left"> <form action="../" onsubmit="return checkcheckboxes(this);">     <input type="checkbox" name="checkbox_1" value="erdbeersocken">     <br>     <input type="checkbox" name="checkbox_2" value="armstulpen">     <br>     <input type="checkbox" name="checkbox_3" value="cupcakes">     <br>     <input type="checkbox" name="checkbox_4" value="babykleidung">     <br>     <input type="submit" value="submit!">     </td> </tr>    </form>  <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> <!-- function checkcheckboxes(theform) {     if (     theform.checkbox_1.checked == false or     theform.checkbox_2.checked == false or     theform.checkbox_3.checked == false or     theform.checkbox_4.checked == false)     {         alert ('you didn\'t choose of checkboxes!');         return false;     } else {             return true;     } } //--> </script> 

which looks like: text here (checkbox here)

i'm using notepadd++ more advanced code not seem work, if me simplified javascript, appreciate it. :)

  function checkcheckboxes(theform) {      if ($("input[type='checkbox']:checked").length){         return true;      }else{           alert ('you didn\'t choose of checkboxes!');          return false;      }  }