Read aloud to children as soon as they can sit for a short time. Point out the pictures as you read to them from a children's storybook. Encourage a love of books at a young age. Continue to read out loud to your children, even after they are able to read. Listening is a skill that helps develop verbal and thinking skills and expand their vocabulary. Read books beyond their reading ability to help expand their horizons and ignite their imaginations. Point to the words as you read them, allowing the children to follow with their eyes, hearing the words pronounced.
Label common items in the children's environment with colorful markers, index cards and office tape. Practice saying the words together. Add more labels as they become familiar with the previous ones. Occasionally remove them from the item and mix them up. Make a game of choosing the right label for each item. Do not pressure or shame for mistakes. Help them learn in a low-stress environment.
Stock up on stories recorded on CD. Most libraries have a plethora of story CDs. Take these on car trips, listen to them at bedtime or naptime. Ask a relative, such as an older sibling or grandparent to record his voice reading their favorite stories. Be careful using headphones on young children.
Write each child's name on a piece of typing paper. Use alternating colored markers or crayons to trace the shape of the word. This activity increases letter recognition --- how words look when spelled correctly. Hang it where the children will see it frequently.
Let each child dictate a story, report or funny incident to a parent, teacher or older sibling. As they tell the story, type or write their exact words. Read it back, helping them self-correct any grammatical mistakes. They may copy it in their own handwriting and add illustrations.