They all have a set of beliefs, theories and perceptions. Learning happens when these are challenged through conversation, a hands-on activity or an experience.
Children adapt their minds to fit in new information.
This may involve reinforcing an existing theory, adapting one, or recreating a complete new one. For instance, a child may believe that when you drop two things ar the same time, the heavier one will land first. At school, she may be playing in a loft and dropping notes and stuffed animals to a friend. She may expect them to land at different times and be surprised when they bump her friend on the head at the same time. Most likely, she will try this a number of times and even talk to her friend about it.