Using a new approach to studying day care centers, this study focused on the total climate of the day care center and the climate's effects on children's social and emotional behavior. A theoretical model for analyzing day care climate is presented. The model includes variables such as job satisfaction, work atmosphere, interactions between children and personnel, children's perceptions of center atmosphere, children's social behavior, and two contrasting sets of staff attitudes toward child rearing which focus on either "future-oriented" or "present-oriented" control strategies. The child rearing attitudes of an entire municipality were investigated, and 12 day care centers were selected in which personnel exhibited contrasting attitudes toward child rearing. In the selected centers, interviews with personnel and measurements of children's attitudes were carried out. Instruments used in the study are appended. (RH)