This study examined the relations of parental beliefs, the parental child rearing experience, and task situation variables. Parent behavior in two types of task situation was observed, and beliefs of 24 pairs of parents were assessed by interview and questionnaire measures. Subsequently, mothers and fathers separately played with their child in free play and structured task situations, and parents' behavior was coded for affect and control. Fathers and mothers showed few group differences on beliefs or behavioral measures. Task situation type affected both mothers' and fathers' behaviors. Parental beliefs and demographic variables were identified as predictors for some measures of parental control, but not for parental affect. A list of 29 references and 10 tables are included. (BC)