“If you keep bugging your sister, I’m taking away the iPad.”

“If you don’t eat your broccoli you can’t have a cookie.”

“If you don’t go to bed right now Mommy is going to throw an exhausted tantrum of her own right here in this hallway…”

Sound familiar?

These very common cause and effect conversations start happening with our children as soon as they can toddle. But how do we teach them about this important concept so that it sticks and they remember it at bedtime, at school, and in their future social relationships?

Why to teach cause and effect to children

First, let’s talk about why teaching cause and effect is important to child development. The key is actually right there in the question; cause and effect is a critical building block for learning because it helps children learn why things happen.

Like in science, “Why does the “lava” in our paper mache volcano erupt when we add the vinegar?” And in reading comprehension, “Why did the third little pig stay safe from the Big Bad Wolf?” Also in history, “Why did the colonists want their independence from Britain?” 

There are also big “Why?” questions that address social interaction and appropriate behavior. For example, “Why didn’t Jaime want to play with me today?” “Why do we need to use our manners at the dinner table?” “Why does that vein on Mommy’s forehead pop out when she has to tell us to get our shoes on for the tenth time?”

When children ask the question “Why?” they are looking to understand the cause of an effect before they have the language to describe it. The natural instinct of curiosity is there, but parents and teachers can help fill the gaps to aid in decision making and put the pieces of the puzzle together.

How to explain cause and effect

To explain cause and effect to young children you can use several different strategies:

Books

When you read a story with your child, ask them why they think certain things are happening. For example: “Why did the Very Hungry Caterpillar get bigger?” 

Simple science experiments 

Use simple science experiments to show how a cause leads to an effect. For example, fill the sink with water and have your child drop different weight objects into the water. Then talk about what sinks to the bottom faster and why.

Baking

Bake cookies together for both a sugary snack and a cause and effect lesson. Put cold cookie dough into a hot oven, and when they come out nice and warm ask children what caused the cookies to bake and warm up.

Play pretend 

When playing princess, zoo animals, or superheroes, act out a scenario with a cause and an effect. Then, after the game, recap the game by asking why things happened and help bring cause and effect to life. The frog turned into a prince because the princess kissed him, the monkey escaped the zoo because the zookeeper left the cage open, or the superhero gets an award because she saved the city from a villain. 

Effect — Your child rocks,  Cause — You rock

All set with your cause and effect lessons? Great job! You’re doing the hard work of helping your child get ready for school and life with the knowledge that for every action there is a reaction. Now you should go take a load off because cause - you’ve worked hard to get this parenting thing right and effect - you’re understandably tired!