This study focuses upon some aspects of the social behavior of 2-year-old children being reared in long-stay residential nurseries. These children are compared with working class 2-year-old children being raised in two-parent homes in which the mother is not working full-time and there are no older siblings of preschool age. All children were observed within 2 weeks of their second birthday. Each child was assessed in his own living room on these items: (1) response to strangers, (2) response to separation from mother or nurse, (3) mother's enumeration of child's attachment to various persons, (4) behavior patterns such as thumbsucking, nailbiting, (5) emotional involvement of mother or nurser, (6) assessment of child's experiences, (7) number of caretakers, and (8) number of child contacts. The children living at home were significantly more friendly than the nursery children. Home-reared children displayed attachment behavior towards a select circle of individuals, while the nursery children generally showed attachment to anyone who spent time with them. Although the nursery children are in contact with more adults, the home children meet adults in a greater variety of situations. The home children more frequently visited cafes, shops, rode in cars and buses; and nursery children more often were read and sung to, played with sand, dough, paints, and wheeled toys. No evidence of marked behavioral disturbance was seen in either group. (AJ)