Wrap a span around some text in jQuery

Question

What I have :

    

        My text
        

            
blahblahblah
              


        

Answer 1

Try:

$('#myId > li').each(
    function(){
        $(this.firstChild).wrap('<span></span>');
    });

JS Fiddle demo.

With regards to wanting to add the class to the ul:

$('#myId > li').each(
    function(){
        $(this.firstChild).wrap('<span></span>');
        $(this).find('ul').addClass('myClass');
    });

JS Fiddle demo.

Answer 2

$($('#myId ul').addClass('myClass')[0].previousSibling).wrap('<span>');

JSFIDDLE DEMO

Answer 3

var ul = document.getElementById("myId");
var li = ul.firstElementChild;
var text = li.firstChild;
var ul = li.childNodes[1];
ul.classList.add('myClass');
var span = document.createElement("span");
span.textContent = text.data;
li.replaceChild(span, text);

Old fashioned DOM to the rescue.