Learning through Theme is a term used in education and psychology to describe how a child can learn to make sense of the world around them. Through play children can develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments.^[1]

Key ways that young children learn include playing, being with other people, being active, exploring and new experiences, talking to themselves, communication with others, meeting physical and mental challenges, being shown how to do new things, practicing and repeating skills and having fun.

Children possess a natural curiosity to explore and play acts as a medium to do so.

• Play must be pleasurable and enjoyable.
• Play must have no extrinsic goals; there is no prescribed learning that must occur.
• Play is spontaneous and voluntary.
• Play involves active engagement on the part of the player.
• Play involves an element of make-believe.