In order to help parents encourage their young children as they develop reading skills, this list suggests that parents give each child as many opportunities as possible for meaningful experiences; strive for good language facility--answering in complete sentences and using exact labels; discourage baby talk; don't discourage young children from asking questions; keep probing children's statements and ideas by asking "why" or "how," and by asking for examples and explanations; play vocabulary games with children which may include contrast or comparison such as how a car is different from a truck or how spoons and forks are alike; and make sure that the home reading program corresponds with the school program: (1) by sending a physically, socially, and emotionally fit child to the school program, (2) by giving children opportunities to become self-reliant, (3) by securing books for children which will be at their level, (4) by allowing children to read silently before asking them to read orally, and (5) by showing children the wisdom of accepting the instructional group that the school recommends. (SW)