A foundation for later learning is provided when children have opportunities to interact with individuals and materials and, as a result, are encouraged to learn from their surroundings. Children's transitions to formal schooling are eased when children have been provided with a variety of play-oriented, exploratory activities, and w hen their early school experiences continue these activities.
Cognition and general knowledge represent the accumulation and reorganization of experiences that result from participating in a rich learning setting with skilled and appropriate adult intervention. From these experiences children construct knowledge of patterns and relations, cause and effect, and methods of solving problems in everyday life.