This study examined relations between mothers' and fathers' behavior and characteristics, and individual differences in masculine and feminine activities and interests of their early school-aged children. Subjects were 57 intact families with an eldest child aged 6 to 7 years for a total of 29 boys and 28 girls. Data collection involved four components: a joint interview with both parents; separate interviews with mothers and fathers; questionnaires completed by parents; and a 90-minute family observation. Analysis revealed evidence that father variables were more strongly related to children's activities and interests than mother variables. Certain parental characteristics and behaviors, such as engaging in shared activities with children, were differentially related to the activities and interests of boys and girls, that is, they were positively related for boys and negatively related for girls or vice versa. A subsample of the original subject group was studied 10 years later, when the children were 15 to 16 years old. Analysis of preliminary data from this follow-up study revealed that children's feminine activities and interests were correlated to mothers' characteristics and behaviors, and that fathers' behaviors and characteristics were correlated with children's masculine activities and interests. (MM)