This executive summary of a 1979 household survey of 1,033 Texas families with children under six years of age updates previous (1973) findings. Of the households surveyed, 50% reported an annual income of less than $14,500. A single parent, usually a woman, headed 15% of these households. Most of the parents worked; 98.5% of the fathers and 40.6% of the mothers worked for wages. Because of this, 38% of the children surveyed received regular care from someone other than a parent. The less the parents earned the more they paid, proportionately, for the child care that allowed them to work. With few exceptions, the surveyed children ate breakfast regularly, were not exposed to excessive television, and could expect to be physically punished if they were physically abusive to another child. The higher a household's income and the greater the level of the parent's education, the more likely a child was to have received medical care. Almost all respondents believed the government should be concerned with the well-being of young children, and more than half believed the government was meeting its obligations in this area. Almost one-third thought government could improve services in the areas of health care or financial assistance. No attempt has been made by the author to draw conclusions based on these findings. (Author/RH)