What is it?
Cause and effect is a part of development beginning at just a few months old when a baby first learns that when they cry, they can signal to a parent that they need them. Older babies love practicing this skill with both intentional toys & the world around them!
My 8-month-old son is loving practicing this new skill with a toy from our first Lovevery box (I will be doing a more informative blog post on what Lovevery is, what else was included in this box, & my thoughts!). By playing with this clear tube & stacking rings with baby ball toy he is learning that his actions (cause) can make something happen (effect). This toy may look simple, but he is developing this skill when he:
- takes the tube out of the base and the ring falls off
- puts the ball in the tube and it falls down
- puts one ring on and it stacks on top of another
- gets the ball out and rolls it away on the floor
You get the idea!
This is exactly why children LOVE repeatedly trying out things like stacking plastic cups up high (or watching you do it) and knocking them down.
Children also engage in experiences that demonstrate this skill:
- knocking over a block tower
- throwing their cup off the highchair
- turning light switches on and off
So why is this important?
When babies begin to understand cause and effect, they are beginning to understand communication. Think about it. When a little one can grasp that their actions (cause) can make something happen (effect), they will soon realize that they can communicate their needs to others to achieve a desired result. For example, your baby will learn “if I say “up” or put my arms above my head, then an adult will come pick me up”. Communication is the root of everything we do on a day to day basis, which is why the development of this skill early on is so important.
Cause and Effect Toys
Some examples of cause and effect toys include:
- pop-up toys
- musical instruments
- wind-up toys
- ball/car ramps
Aside from the toy that was included in our play kit from Lovevery, one of our favorite cause and effect toys is a pop up toy by Fisher-Price.
I have linked up this toy as well as some others I recommend for development of this essential skill!