Part of a series designed to provide practical ideas parents can use to help children become readers, this booklet focuses on how parents can encourage their children to read and write. The booklet describes how individuals learn to use language; discusses how to encourage the use of language; urges parents to build positive attitudes toward reading, writing, and speaking by praising the child's efforts and leaving correction for the classroom; suggests ways to demonstrate the purposes of reading, writing, and speaking; and encourages making books readily available to children, describing children's needs from birth to age 12 and including some book suggestions to meet these needs. A short list of recommended reading for parents and a list of resources available from the International Reading Association conclude the booklet. (SR)