Preschool cause and effect games: 5 Cause-and-Effect Activities and Games for Babies

5 Cause-and-Effect Activities and Games for Babies

Ages 0-2

Critical Thinking

Curiosity

Fine Motor Skills

Social Emotional

Lights on. Lights off. Door open. Door shut. Cause and effect? Yep, and babies get that. Check out our super fun mini experiments for babies and toddlers. Your little one will love them.
 

1. The Indoor Light Show

How to play: Carry your baby or toddler from room to room, pausing when you reach a light switch. Show your little one how the lights go on when you flip the switch one way and off when you flip it in the opposite direction. Play tour guide and visit all desk and table lamps, too. Narrate your journey.

What baby learns: A little science (cause and effect), and a little vocabulary—words such as on, off, light, dark and other descriptors. Between 18 and 24 months, your little one may want to flip lights on and off without your help—just because they can make something happen.

2. The Shoebox Challenge

How to play: Select one baby-size box—a shoebox, for example—and two smaller boxes that fit inside it (jewelry boxes are perfect). Open and shut the largest box, repeating the words “open” and “close.” Then let your baby do it. Loosen the box top to make it easier. Place a ball, toy car or other safe object inside one of the smaller boxes to surprise your baby.

What baby learns: Cause and effect, vocabulary and fine motor skills.

3. The Empty Cup Olympics

How to play: Set out 6 small lightweight cups on the floor or highchair tabletop. Build a tower. Gently topple the cups. Act surprised, and say, “Oh look, I pushed them over!” Set the cups up again and encourage your baby touch them, using their hands or feet. Applaud their efforts when the tower tumbles.

What baby learns: Cause and effect (tap or push to demolish the tower) and hand-eye coordination.

4.

Wild, Wild Waters

How to play: Fill a sink, large bowl or a bucket with water, or use a tub at bath time. Settle your cutie into your lap or hold your baby to keep them safe near water. Gently toss a waterproof toy into the basin to make it splatter or cause ripples. Let your baby splash around and make waves or rescue a toy duck from the roiling current. (Just be sure to never leave baby alone around water.)

What baby learns: Cause and effect (the ripples) and hand-eye coordination.

5. Walk the Puppy

How to play: Grab a toy that has a pull string or create one by attaching a short ribbon or scarf to a favorite toy from your child’s collection.). Sit on the floor next to your baby or toddler, grab the end of the string and coax the toy toward you. Hand over the reins. Say “pull” and help your playmate ease the toy forward. If your baby walks independently, let them “walk” the doggie.

What baby learns: Cause and effect, some vocabulary and large and small motor skills.

By: Stacey Feintuch

Related Activities

All Activities

Related Articles by Topic

All Articles

Cause and Effect Games for Kids Online

Identify the Cause Games for Kids

View all 3 games

Identify the Cause

What’s the cause? – Part 1 Game

Use your language skills to determine ‘what’s the cause’ (Part 1).

3
4
5
RL.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Cause

What’s the cause? – Part 2 Game

Use your language skills to determine ‘what’s the cause’ (Part 2).

3
4
5
RL.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Cause

What’s the cause? – Part 3 Game

Use your language skills to determine ‘what’s the cause’ (Part 3).

3
4
5
RL.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Cause

What’s the cause? – Part 1 Game

Use your language skills to determine ‘what’s the cause’ (Part 1).

3
4
5
RL.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Effect Games for Kids

View all 3 games

Identify the Effect

What’s the effect? – Part 1 Game

Determine the answer to ‘What’s the effect’ (Part 1) by playing this game.

3
4
5
RI.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Effect

What’s the effect? – Part 2 Game

Utilise your english language skils to determine the effect (Part 2).

3
4
5
RI.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Effect

What’s the effect? – Part 3 Game

Play this game to determine ‘what’s the effect’ (Part 3).

3
4
5
RI.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Effect

What’s the effect? – Part 1 Game

Determine the answer to ‘What’s the effect’ (Part 1) by playing this game.

3
4
5
RI.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

All Cause and Effect Games for Kids

Identify the Cause

What’s the cause? – Part 1 Game

Use your language skills to determine ‘what’s the cause’ (Part 1).

3
4
5
RL.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Effect

What’s the effect? – Part 1 Game

Determine the answer to ‘What’s the effect’ (Part 1) by playing this game.

3
4
5
RI.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Cause

What’s the cause? – Part 2 Game

Use your language skills to determine ‘what’s the cause’ (Part 2).

3
4
5
RL.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Effect

What’s the effect? – Part 2 Game

Utilise your english language skils to determine the effect (Part 2).

3
4
5
RI.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Cause

What’s the cause? – Part 3 Game

Use your language skills to determine ‘what’s the cause’ (Part 3).

3
4
5
RL.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Identify the Effect

What’s the effect? – Part 3 Game

Play this game to determine ‘what’s the effect’ (Part 3).

3
4
5
RI.3.2

VIEW DETAILS

Causal Games for Preschoolers | Card file (senior group) on the topic:

Games to establish cause-and-effect relationships for preschoolers

Game “Why did this happen?”

Ask the child to name as many reasons as possible for the following situations:
• There were a lot of people standing outside…
• The children were standing with their mouths open in amazement.. .
• The water in the cup became cloudy…
• Suddenly in the room the lights went out…
• The singing of the birds suddenly stopped…
• Mom opened the door to the room and gasped…

Try to come up with both ordinary and the most improbable explanations for situations. For example: mom might be surprised to see a gift on the table or a broken cup, or maybe Carlson sitting on the windowsill.

Game “What can happen if…”

• If you put ice on your palm, then… .
• If a bear grows wings, then … .
• If you fly high, high, then … .
• If you eat a lot of ice cream, then … . nine0007 • If it snows in summer, then … .

Turn on your imagination: if you throw away a piece of bread, then birds can eat it, it can fall on someone’s head, it will be carried by the wind to a magical land and the piece of bread will turn into an edible house.

Game “Continue the sentences”

• The girl laughed merrily because … .
• If a holiday comes, then … .
• The dog wandered sadly down the street, although … .
• Water dripped onto a hot pan … .
• We left and forgot to water the flowers… . nine0007 • The hungry wolf saw the pie….
• Dad opened the faucet….
• Kolya fell into a hole because … .
• Birds began to gather in warmer climes because … .

Find the connection game

Invite the child to find a connection between two sentences that at first glance have nothing in common. Explain how everything happened. For example:
The cone fell from the tree.
The bus did not arrive on time.
The squirrel was sitting on a tree and missed a bump. At this time, a bunny was sitting under a tree, on which a cone fell. With a fright, the coward rushed to run, jumped out onto the road. The children sitting on the bus ran out to look at the hare and dispersed. The driver waited for them for a long time and therefore the bus did not arrive at the station on time. nine0003

Incredible Fantasy Game

• What would happen if it was winter all year round?
• What happens if fish fly?
• What happens if a person is as tall as a house?
• What happens if ants become the size of an elephant?

“Understanding Purpose” game

• Why does every person need a name?
• What are the traffic lights for on the streets?
• Why do we need a stove?
• Why does the hedgehog have needles?
• What can you do if you get lost?

Game “Composition of objects and phenomena”

• What do birds build their nests from?
• What should I take with me on a fishing trip?
• How does it rain?
• What can I give a dog for his birthday?
• How to distinguish a living object from an inanimate one?

Exercises to establish the sequence of events in a chain of sentences

1. Clouds have gathered in the sky. Lightning flashed. It started to rain. Passers-by opened their umbrellas.

2. Because of the cold weather, it became more difficult for the birds to get food. The birds gathered in a flock. They went on a long flight. In the spring the birds will fly again. nine0003

3. The bell rang. The students entered the classroom. They sat down in their seats. The teacher started the lesson.

4. Clouds have come. Rain is coming. The sun came out. A rainbow appeared.

5. Flowers bloomed. The bees have arrived. The bees collected the nectar and carried it to the hive. Delicious honey.

6. A dark cloud covered the sun. Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed. Rain is coming.

7. Bright lightning flashed. Thunder boomed. It poured heavy rain. Thunderstorm began.

8. The sun has risen. Nature has awakened from its night sleep. The birds sang. nine0003

9. Hares have little food in winter. Belyak gnaws at the bark of young apple trees in the gardens. Trunks of apple trees are exposed. They get sick and die.

10. A thunderstorm has begun. Lightning struck the house. The house caught fire. The family lost their homes.

11. The sun is setting. It’s getting dark. The moon and stars appear. Night falls on the city.

12. The hot summer has passed. Autumn has come. Birds fly south. The forest became quiet.

13. The ship was carrying oil. There’s been an accident. Oil spread over the surface of the sea. Many fish have died. nine0003

14. Toads lay their eggs in the water. Tadpoles appear. Tadpoles become toads. Toads come out of the water and live on land.

Sentence causation exercises

1. Most birds build their own nests.

Nests protect both eggs and chicks.

2. Big sharks have six rows of teeth in their mouths and are sharp as a saw.

Big sharks are very dangerous.

3. Watermelons grow in hot countries.

Watermelons need warmth and a long time to ripen. nine0003

4. Do not destroy ant dwellings and dig up ant heaps.

Ants help to save forests.

5. The mole does not like clear sun and fresh wind.

The mole lives underground.

6. Magpie is black with white wings on its sides.

Magpie is called white-sided.

7. The woodpecker has a sticky tongue of great length.

Ants often stick to it.

8. Bats hibernate in caves, closely huddled together.

Bats are warmer in close quarters.

9. Before eating, a raccoon washes its prey.

The raccoon was nicknamed the gargle.

10. Bear cubs are born in winter and sit in a den until spring. Just born cubs are rarely seen.

11. Darkness reigns in the depths of the sea.

Luminous fish swim in the depths of the sea.

12. Many people grow geraniums in their apartment.

Geranium revitalizes the air and improves sleep.

13. Swifts catch insects in flight. nine0003

Swifts have big mouths.

14. Larch wood is very durable.

Larch wood does not rot.

15. With the help of the nose, animals smell food and their enemies.

Noses help animals to live.

16. The coconut tree grows well on the sand of the sea coast.

The coconut tree loves light, warmth and moisture.

17. The lotus grows in muddy water and silt, but is not polluted by them.

People who have not stained themselves with anything, who have not submitted to evil and fate, are compared with the lotus. nine0003

18. Dye is obtained from nettles, fabrics, braid, ropes, threads are produced.

Nettle is a useful plant for humans.

19. Mosquitoes killed many travelers.

Mosquito – spreader of malaria and yellow fever.

20. Parrots have a large curved beak – wire cutters.

Parrots can chew hard nuts and fruits.

21. Mushrooms are good for the forest.

Mushrooms accelerate the destruction of already dying trees.

22. Raccoons wash their food. nine0003

Raccoons like wet food.

23. Rice is a very important product.

Rice is used not only for food, but also for the preparation of starch, glue, powder.

24. Birds do not need to learn much.

Many habits of birds are innate.

25. Many doctors recommend that patients play checkers.

Checkers is a game that can have a healing effect.

26. Woodpecker – forest doctor.

With the help of a long nose, the woodpecker gets out harmful insects from under the bark. nine0003

27. A giraffe is huge.

The giraffe can easily get leaves from large trees.

28. Ceramics is one of the most ancient arts on earth.

Archaeologists during excavations find clay shards made in prehistoric times.

29. Tea is not grass.

Tea is made from the leaves of the tea tree.

30. Long before the earthquake, snakes and lizards rush to crawl out of their holes.

All snakes and lizards are very sensitive to ground shaking. nine0003

31. Bananas are cut green.

Ripe bananas spoil quickly.

32. A wild boar cuts down a tree with its tusks, like with an axe.

The wild boar is called a billhook.

33. The peacock spreads its feathers and walks proudly.

The expression appeared among the people: “Smug as a peacock.”

34. Animals give birth to young and feed them with milk.

These animals are called mammals.

35. Ravens cause great damage to crops.

Farmers set up scarecrows to keep crows at bay.

Appendix I.13

Exercises to establish the pattern of words selection

1. Valve – flute

Poster – dishes

Football – Sport

Mittens – Hands

Lock – Violin

Rose – Flower

scarf – scarf – scarf – neck

string – guitar

felt boots – legs

Exercises to replace word combinations with one that is close in meaning

1. Left without food – starving

left without money – impoverished

left with a nose – lose

2. Sweep away the dust – wipe

sweep everything off the table – eat

sweep everything in its path – crush

Get into the house – go in

hit the hand – hit

hit the bullseye – guess

4. Keep the course – head

keep your back straight – do not slouch

bet – argue

5. Drive a car – drive

drive to school – see off

lead by the nose – deceive

6. Hang a picture – attach

hang toys on the Christmas tree – decorate

hang noodles on the ears – deceive 900 02 900 02 Substitute a chair – move

substitute a number in the expression – replace

substitute a friend – betray

8. It floods the meadows – it floods

0003

9. Go forward – move forward

go back – return

go to the bottom – die

fall asleep in a hole – fill up

fall asleep with questions – ask

12. Look out the window – look0002 13. Protect the child – protect, secure

protect from the cold – insulate

protect opinion – defend

14. Throw the ball – throw

Games to establish cause and effect relationships

Development of speech 01/06/2012 02/02/2020

We are all familiar with the concept of cause-and-effect relationships: put your hand in hot water – you get burned, step on a rake – they hit you on the forehead. nine0355 We encounter cause and effect relationships at every step. We offer you games aimed at developing cause-and-effect relationships in a child.