What kind of strategies a concerned parent can use to help improve his or her child's reading and writing skills?

Answer 1

Have the child read every day a set time period (depending on age). If a poor reader, an adult needs to sit in on the reading. My seven year old reads twenty min a day.
Writing: keeping a daily journal is a must and very effective.

Answer 2

You can also encourage the child to write letters to friends and/or relatives.

I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.