When a child is born their minds awaken, each day is a new exploration of the world they live in. Start communicating with your baby immediately, tell them stories about their family, as well as fairy tales, and nursery rhymes.

When the baby starts playing with their toys get down on the floor with them and role play, a favorite with most is you be the Mommy/Daddy and I'll be the baby, It really gives them the giggles to see themselves through your eyes.

Use dolls, action figures, stuffed animals, or puppets to act out stories as you tell them have the child/ren help move the characters about. Make funny faces and change your voice to fit the different characters.

When the child is old enough to use crayons/ pencils etc... have them draw pictures for the stories you read to them.

Ask them to make up stories, by drawing pictures, and offer to write the words for them.

When you read a story, watch a tv show, or movie ask them what they would have done if they were such, and such, a character,

Buy dress up clothes for them and let them act out characters from their favorite books, shows, or movies. For example right now a big favorite with kids is Harry Potter, have a dinner party with Harry Potter (or another character) from the books or movies with either you or the child portraying their favorite character. Stay in character through out the dinner answering questions and telling anecdotes from the characters life.

Let the kids put on plays and skits for you and or their friends.

Take your child/ren to plays, circus's and operas, or to living museums, and concerts let them see that grownups enjoy play time too.

Buy cheap picture frames and frame thier art it will make them feel important to see it actually framed and hanging on the wall. It may even encourage them to create more.