string xml = @"
<parent>
<child>
<nested />
</child>
<child>
<other>
</other>
</child>
</parent>
";
XmlReader rdr = XmlReader.Create(new System.IO.StringReader(xml));
while (rdr.Read())
{
if (rdr.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element)
{
Console.WriteLine(rdr.LocalName);
}
}