This progress report on the Family Development Research Program for 108 low-income families, conducted at Syracuse University Children's Center, provides information on a longitudinal comparison instituted when the program children reached 36 months of age. The families of the children were matched to control families on a number of variables. Analysis of the study data provided the following findings: (1) center children scored significantly higher on the Stanford-Binet Intelligence test than did controls from a low-education group, but not as high as controls from a high-education group; there were few differences among the three groups on the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities; (2) on the Schaefer Classroom Behavior Inventory, the center children had greater than median responses on all the items reflecting social and emotional developmental maturity, and had responses below the median on social and emotional items reflecting developmental immaturity; on the Beller Scale, results showed that the center children had developed very superior attention and persistence habits, satisfaction and interest in work, and the ability to carry out tasks autonomously and with initiative; the Schaefer Classroom Checklist was found a powerful predictor of 36-month IQ; (3) on the Self-Esteem and Emmerich's Observer Ratings of Children, the center children rated high on the self-esteem rating scale, and the group mean on the entire scale was relatively high; results from the Emmerich showed that the program children appeared to be more involved, expressive, relaxed, active, energetic, stable, social, assertive, independent, constructive, purposeful, affectionate, socially secure, flexible, and happy than controls; and (4) nutrition in center and control families was good. (DB)