Presents the evolution of participation programs for Head Start parents which were conducted by the University of Hawaii Center for Research in Early Childhood Education from 1967-1968 through 1970. Each year's shifting emphasis was based on experience with programs tried earlier, on shifting interests of staff and particular communities involved in other aspects of the year's research program, and on aspects of the overall research design of that year. Programs of group meetings and individual home visits were explored. Various types of parent participation programs in conjunction with curricular modules in the cognitive and motivational realms were assessed. The major conclusion is that broad generalization is not possible from small and short term attempts to alter parental attitudes and practices. Parent programs may not be the most effective way to improve cognitive abilities and behavior of preschool children. (Author/WY)