• Reading is an obvious choice, but in addition to an enticing picture book or an exciting chapter book, here are some non-fiction books kids could have on hand to keep them occupied (you might pick up a stack from the library every once in a while): --books of riddles, jokes, limericks, etc. --books of magic tricks, card tricks, shadow pictures --books of brainteasers --photo books (cars, trains, fashions, dinosaurs, kittens, buildings, etc. anything your child might have an interest in) --resource books: world records, names and their meanings, etc. --how-to-books --children's cookbooks --books that tell the rules of games Another idea: check out audio books from the library; some kids really enjoy these and will end up "reading" things they might never have read in actual book form.
Step2
• Writing can be entertaining. Provided with a variety of paper, notebooks, etc., kids can keep busy with any or all of the following writing activities: --write a letter (or e-mail someone) --write in a journal --write an entry in an ongoing book of stories: fantasy, science fiction, animal stories, an adventure series, a detective series, etc. --keep a scrapbook of almost anything (clippings from the newspaper or magazines, for example) and add to it, making comments --create a cartoon character and write a new adventure
Step3
• Creating can let a child’s imagination soar. --work on your art gallery. Paint or draw with crayons, pencils, chalk. Hang up artwork in a hallway and change on a regular basis. (Also: Try coloring to music.) --put together models from kits --create sculpture from found materials --make collages from cut-up magazines
Step4
• Practicing is not always tedious. Encourage your children to learn (probably with some help from you) and then practice one or more of the following: --making shadow pictures with your hands --juggling --performing a magic trick --shooting marbles --memorizing a poem to say aloud --getting your dog to do a trick
Novice 
