This study provides longitudinal observations of young children's behaviors while viewing television in their own homes, over a time when the children were actively involved in the process of language acquisition. A total of 16 children were observed for a period ranging from 6 to 8 months. At the beginning, their ages ranged from 6 and 1/2 to 29 and 1/2 months. The observations yielded documentation of an overwhelming and consistent occurrence of language-related behaviors among children and parents in the viewing situation. The categories of child and adult talk are reported, with description and examples of each category. Categories of children's verbal behavior included designating through pointing, pointing and speaking unintelligibly, verbal labeling with or without pointing, and pointing with a question; questioning about television content by using "wh" and form questions, questions relating to self, and operative questions; repetition; and description. Categories of caretaker verbal behavior included designating through attention calling, labeling, correcting, and requesting a label; questioning; and parent responses to the child involving repetition, acknowledgement, directing behavior, and answering questions. The categories are compared to those reported for parent-child interactions outside the viewing experience, in particular, joint book reading. A model of television as a talking picture book is proposed. (Author/RH)