Which activity is most appropriate to promote understanding of cause and effect for a nine-month-old with a developmental delay?

Encouraging the child to shake various rattles is the most appropriate activity to promote understanding of cause and effect for a nine-month-old with a developmental delay. This activity directly engages the child in an interactive way where they can see and hear the immediate results of their actions. When the child shakes a rattle, they can observe that their movements produce sound, which helps them understand the connection between their actions and corresponding effects.

At this developmental stage, infants are beginning to explore their environment and learn through sensory experiences. Shaking rattles not only fosters this understanding but also aids in the development of motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The auditory feedback from the rattles reinforces the cause-and-effect relationship by showing the child the outcome of their actions.

Other activities, while beneficial in their own right, do not emphasize this cause-and-effect relationship as strongly. For instance, reading a board book with vivid images primarily supports language and visual skills rather than a direct interaction leading to an observable reaction. Singing familiar songs with rhyming words can develop auditory processing and language skills but does not create a direct causal interaction for the child. Touching a variety of textured materials is excellent for sensory development but lacks the same direct cause-and-effect linkage as the act of shaking