The purpose of this study was to examine the verbal and nonverbal interaction patterns of black parents and their preschool children. Three types of verbal interaction patterns were observed between the parent and child: nurturant, non-nurturant, and restrictive. Patterns of nonverbal interaction were also observed. Also studied were patterns of decision making, child rearing attitudes, and expectations of the child. Hypotheses included: (1) mothers would be significantly more nurturant than fathers; (2) middle class fathers would be more authoritative in their child rearing attitudes and beliefs; (3) black parents would be found to be more egalitarian in making child rearing decisions; and (4) parental expectations of a child's behavior would be the same regardless of the sex of the child. It was found that the majority of parents, both fathers and mothers, were verbally nurturant, warm, and loving with their children. While the fathers interacted more nonverbally, the mothers were found to be more positive in their nonverbal interactions. Fathers were restrictive in their verbal interactions and mothers were restrictive in their non verbal interactions. The children tended to have high average IQ and self esteem scores, with the boys' scores being more positive than the girls'. The results suggest a need for further research into the role that nurturance and restrictiveness play in the development of positive self-esteem in preschool children. (Author/RLV)