The purpose of this study was to compare the mother-child and father-child interaction of six toddlers who were completely home reared with the interactions of six toddlers who were participants in a daily 3-hour playgroup. For the comparisons, both mother-child and father-child interactions were videotaped in a semi-structured laboratory setting. The first observation was made immediately before the beginning of the playgroup experience, with subsequent observations being made after half of the toddlers had been in a playgroup three and six months. While there were no differences in the playgroup and homecare toddlers before the playgroup experience, significant differences were found after the playgroup experience. The playgroup toddlers became proportionally more active in their social interactions. They also became more responsive to the interaction initiations of their parents. Significant differences were also found in parental behavior as a function of the playgroup experience. The parents of the playgroup children became significantly less controlling. In addition to playgroup/homecare differences, significant differences were also found in mother-child and father-child interaction independent of the playgroup experience. (Author/CM)