These ideas and suggestions for teaching children of all ages the basic skills are for use by both parents and teachers. The first materials provided are information for parents regarding their role as teachers, providing experiences for children to learn, and encouraging children to think and respond. Activities are then suggested for teaching the alphabet, simple sounds and words, and reading readiness. More suggestions for teaching children to read follow. A section of skills and basic activities charts activities that teach a reading skill, basic and related activities, and materials needed. A variety of skills are then covered, with directions provided for teaching a child to estimate, tell time, and use fractions. Other activities are described that use newspapers and magazines to involve the child in identifying pictures, basic shapes, letters, and animals and in creative writing. Suggestions for using kitchen and vacation experiences for teaching are made. A mastery list for first grade reading level, news article, and bibliography are appended. (YLB)