Incy Wincy's Adventure

What you need

• your lap or a comfy chair to sit on

How to do it

1. Sit together on your lap or a comfy chair and wiggle one finger as a little spider.
2. Sing "Incy Wincy Spider" while the spider climbs slowly up your own arm.
3. Let the spider hide behind your back, then pop out somewhere new with a "boo!"
4. Ask before any tickling, and sing it again whenever they want more.

Why it matters

A finger spider that hides and pops out is a gentle, familiar game, and the song gives them the rhythm and the words in a calm way.

What they're learning

Song and rhyme

Singing the same words again and again helps them learn the sounds and rhythm of language.

Watching and waiting

Following the spider up, then waiting for it to pop out, helps them hold their attention.

Making a choice

Picking where the spider goes next shows them that their ideas count.

What to look for

Watch their eyes follow the finger and whether they giggle when it pops out. Ask before any tickling, and stop if they pull away.

A tip

Go slowly on the climb and pause before the pop. The waiting is half the fun.

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