THE IMPACT OF TWO TREATMENTS OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES ON THE ABILITIES OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WERE STUDIED. THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES INVOLVED PRINCIPLES OF HAPTIC (TACTUAL) PERCEPTION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS TASKS. CHILDREN, AGES 3 THROUGH 5, FROM HIGH AND LOW ECONOMIC LEVELS WERE SELECTED AS SUBJECTS. AN ANALYSIS WAS MADE OF THEIR HAPTIC PERCEPTION ABILITIES WHEN GIVEN INSTRUCTION, EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR IN A GROUP. THEY WERE PRE- AND POST-TESTED IN FIVE AREAS OF HAPTIC ABILITY. DATA WERE ANALYZED BY F-RATIO AND CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS. THE 0.05 LEVEL INDICATED SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MEANS AND FOR THE CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS. THE RESULTS INDICATED A NUMBER OF IDENTIFIABLE AND MEASURABLE VARIABLES WHICH PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE CHILD'S PERFORMANCE. HOWEVER, THE INSTRUCTION TREATMENTS DID NOT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY. (RS)