It may seem far-fetched to suggest that babies and toddlers start to learn about cause and effect. But when you watch the exploratory play of under-threes, you see that this idea is actually rather simple in action.
Very young children learn about 'what happens when I...?' through direct experiences that make sense in their social world. Some manufacturers are keen to promote the notion of toys that directly 'teach about cause and effect'. But you do not need to buy specific items in this way.
Under-threes are keen to explore through ordinary daily events and flexible play materials. Many different experiences support the first understanding of 'if I do this, then that happens...'.
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