Pre-K Passions

If Your Kid Likes Music and Art...

Everything from piano lessons to art time in your own living room can stimulate your child's imagination and give her a creative outlet. The arts can also boost self-esteem and social skills by helping kids, especially introverted ones, connect with other children who share similar interests, like drawing or dancing.

What you can do: Designate a space in your home for art supplies, such as crayons and paper, or a box of musical instruments (tambourines, whistles, maracas), suggests Margery Franklin, PhD, professor emerita of psychology at Sarah Lawrence College, in Bronxville, New York. "When these tools are readily available, kids are free to be creative whenever -- and however -- they choose," she says. It's also a good idea to organize fun activities. Try making your own book: Have your child tell you a story while you write it down, then encourage her to draw pictures to go with it. Another fun project is to stage a "play" or "concert" in your house and record it to watch later as a family.

Since creative kids are often shy or independent, it's important to get them involved in activities outside the house: Many local museums, theaters, libraries, and youth service organizations (YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs) offer affordable pre-K programs with storytime, crafts, and even cooking events.