What can parents do to help there children develop?

Probably one of the biggest things you can do is to ENGAGE in conversation. I would sing songs in the car with my kids, play "I spy", talk about current events. ANYTHING to get them to carry on conversation even when they were 2! I would just talk about anything and everything. I made them feel their opinion was valued. As a result, my kids are social, very aware of their surroundings, and active participants in adult conversations (i.e. politics, current events, etc.) (They are 10 and 12 now) In comparasion, I have a friend that never said a Word to her son in the car. He is very backward, withdrawn and socially inept. I can't help but wonder if this is why.