Encourage an early interest in the natural world by taking your child on leisurely walks and pointing out the nature around you. Listen for bird song and point out different trees, animals and plants. Take your child's botanical skills a step further and sprout your own seeds or grow a tiny garden in a pot.
Engage your child in the world of art with a plentiful supply of paints, paper and a small children's easel. Start off with hand prints and finger dot paintings and move on to freestyle brush work. Make your own play dough for a safe, non-toxic modeling clay. Mix together 1 cup of plain flour, 1/2 a cup of salt and 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar. Add 1 cup of water and mix until smooth. Add food coloring, followed by 2 tablespoons of oil. Cook on a medium heat until the dough forms a solid ball. Allow to cool.
Develop early written skills through everyday activities by asking the child to sign his or her name on grandma's birthday card. Your child may naturally develop an interest in road signs. Explain what they say and the sounds of each letter. Turn it into a fun reading game every time you leave the house. Ask your child to help you write the grocery list and show him or her the letters you are writing. Then go shopping together to help visualize the words.
Provide a plentiful supply of play money and ask the child for specific amounts. Children often find it fun to act like a grownup during play, so you could take the opportunity to ask your city-worker kindergartner for pocket money from his or her large stash of play money. Alternatively, set up a shopping station role-play game and price various items to exchange for toy money.
Spark your child's imagination by cutting out the television and listening to audio books instead. Spend quality time reading vivid fairy tales and looking at colorful picture books, or head to the library for children's reading hour.
Help your child to create a scrapbook with cut-outs, photos, cartoons, stickers and decorations. This will provide a fun craft activity and help to improve hand eye coordination with the use of scissors, coloring pencils and page layouts.
Play body games like "Simon Says" to energize your child and create an awareness of different body parts. Dance classes and yoga sessions are also activities that effectively hold the interest of little ones.
Teach a simple instrument like the recorder for a fun-packed music play session. Stock up on percussion instruments like drums, xylophones and maracas for an everyday celebration of sound.