Activities based on the theme of pets help children, particularly those who are unable to keep pets at home, to learn to respect and care for animals and small creatures. The children can learn how to recognize different animals and what they need to live a safe and contented life.The practical activities include investigating what pets eat and the equipment they need, learning action rhymes, making collages, looking at features of different and unusual pets, and pretending to move like an animal.All of the play activities are designed to develop important preschool skills and a deeper understanding of the world and are linked to the Early Learning Goals of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, revised by the Department of Education for September 2012.