Cause and effect toys teach children that their actions can cause something to happen. A rattle makes a sound when they shake it or a ball that falls through a hole after they push it down shows a child they can change something in their environment. This helps develop curiosity, attention, and intentional play. Below are 9 different examples of toys that teach cause and effect. Although the toys all look completely different, each one responds immediately once it is activated which shows a child that their actions can control their environment.
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1) Car Ramp Racer
This race car ramp may seem like a simple toy, but it actually demonstrates an important concept to a child. In order to cause the car to slide down the ramp, she first has to drop it at the top.
2) Pound and Tap Bench
Hammering a ball through the hole and then watching it slide down the xylophone will engage a child in active and intentional play. It will also help develop eye-hand coordination and promote attention. This toy will demonstrate the concept of cause and effect as the balls roll over the xylophone and play music.
3) Busy Poppin’ Pals
In this pop-up toy, a child will have to figure out how to manipulate the different switches to make the animals jump up. It’s great for encouraging fine motor skills and problem-solving as well as teaching cause and effect. A child learns that in order to make the animals pop up they first have to activate the switches correctly.
4) Wooden Drum
Encourage a child to use the drumstick and/or their hand to experiment with different sounds and rhythms while learning cause and effect. A child will learn that when they hit the drum with the drumstick it will produce sound.
5) Baby Newspaper
The Baby Newspaper is a fun sensory toy that introduces cause and effect and helps develop fine motor skills. Squeeze, pinch, and crumble it then watch it bounce back to its original shape.
6) Poppitoppy
Here, kids have to push on top of the funny character’s head in order to make the balls pop up and around. Kids learn cause and effect as a child realizes that their action of pushing the top knob causes the balls to jump.
7) Roly Poly Giraffe
Gently tap the Giraffe to watch it spin and wobble while playing soft musical sounds. The harder a child pushes the further the Giraffe will tip.
8) 1-2-3 Bowl with me
Rolling the bowling ball to knock down the adorable bowling pins is a fun way to discover cause and effect. It also requires focus and eye-hand coordination. This set has an electronic component (plays songs) which you can turn on/off as you like.
9) SpinAgain
Here is another fun way to introduce cause and effect. Place the discs on top of the corkscrew and watch them slowly spin all the way down. A child will enjoy dropping the discs over and over again learning that they first have to place them at the top of the bar correctly in order for them to spin.
Learn more about how to teach cause and effect to young children from birth to 3 years old.