My child is scared of spiders. Can we still sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider?
Yes, if your child is happy to, and you can stop if they aren’t. A small, friendly spider made of your own fingers is often far less frightening than a real one, and your child stays in control of it.
Start with their hands, not yours
Don’t walk your fingers toward them. Let your child make the spider, or make it on your own arm where they can watch from a safe distance. If they want the spider to fall out of the spout and stay out, that’s fine.
If it’s still too much
Sing it about another creature, like an itsy bitsy kitten or a beetle. The rhyme still works, and the rhythm and actions are what your child is practicing. Come back to the spider later, or don’t. It’s a song, not a test.