A 'schema' is the word used to describe the way in which children focus on one aspect of play and use it repeatedly in a variety of contexts. Active involvement in revisiting a particular source of interest enables children to learn significant skills related to it. For example, a schema that inspires most babies and toddlers is wrapping things up.
Some of the most recent research on schemas has concentrated on three- and four-year-olds, because they are thought to be gaining greater control and can express preferences more coherently about what they want to do.
However, babies and toddlers enjoy the repetitive nature of schemas and these are the principal ways in which they learn.
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