The findings presented here are part of a longitudinal, prospective study investigating factors associated with infants, parents, interactions, and environments which account for developmental outcomes in a sample of high-risk children. In a group of 96 children observed in preschool at age 4 1/2, 31 compliant and 22 extremely noncompliant children were identified and compared on a wide range of earlier and concurrent measures. In general, results highlight the importance of a warm, secure, supportive relationship between caregiver and child, within the context of a stimulating but organized learning environment at home, for fostering the child's compliance in preschool. Concurrent measures showed that compliant children also had better ego control, displaying fewer negative emotions and more positive affect in preschool than did noncompliant children. Among noncompliant children considerable variability existed on these measures. (Author/RH)