Talk to your infant. Say the name of everyday items as you use them, such as "diaper," "bottle" and "light." This teaches your child everything has a word associated with it.
Read to your child as often as possible. When you read to your infant, describe the pictures, the colors or the letters. You do not have to read the story in its entirety for learning to occur.
Play word games with your toddler and preschooler. Make up silly rhymes together. Show your child signs and notes at the market, on the street and anywhere else you see them. Talk about the beginning sound in words and what letters make those sounds. Let your child pick the books you read together. Show enthusiasm for reading and let your child "catch" you reading for pleasure during quiet times. Do alphabet flashcards with your preschooler.
Read with your older child. Take turns reading pages or paragraphs. Take him to the library every week to pick out new books he's interested in. Continue to play word games, but make them more complex, like building a story one sentence at a time or taking turns adding to the tale. Take turns doing word flashcards.
Ask your child to read you directions when driving to a new destination. Have her read you the recipe while you bake together and instructions for putting together her new toys. Encourage her to read out loud and silently. Talk to her about the stories she likes. Ask questions about the characters and plot. Read the same books and discuss them after you complete each chapter.
Set out plenty of varied reading materials. Subscribe to magazines your child is interested in and your local newspaper. Set aside at least 10 minutes of reading time every day. Enforce this by having everyone in the house read or listen to a story. Encourage older children to read to your younger kids.