How can adults provide feedback to help infants and toddlers learn consequences?

Providing clear and immediate feedback is crucial in helping infants and toddlers understand the consequences of their actions. Young children are in a developmental stage where they are rapidly learning cause and effect relationships. When adults respond to a behavior right away, it helps the child make immediate connections between their actions and the outcomes that follow. For instance, if a toddler throws a toy and the adult immediately explains, "We keep toys on the floor, not in the air," the child starts to grasp that throwing leads to the toy not being available for play.

This immediacy in feedback supports their learning process, as children at this age often have short attention spans and may not remember or connect a delayed conversation about a behavior to the action itself. Engaging with them right after an incident ensures that the learning moment is relevant and impactful, fostering their understanding of appropriate behavior and its consequences. This approach lays the groundwork for more thoughtful decision-making as they grow.