Until recently there has been little effort to train parents in specific positive skills of child-rearing. For most parents, parenting is the most difficult job experienced, with the least amount of preparation. This is especially true for high risk parents. A counseling intervention program was implemented for parents to learn improved communication skills when interacting with their children. The program consisted of four meetings per week, held in a playroom and attended by mothers and children. Children ranged in age from 2 to 6 years. Increased interaction time, increased positive interactions, increased positive physical responses, and decreased directives were taught through participation and role modeling. An at-home 5-minute play period each day in which class skills were practiced and recorded by the mothers reinforced the new techniques. A total of 33 parents participated, 11 of whom met the evaluation criteria of attending three of the four meetings. Mothers reported increased interaction time, improved contact time between parent and child, increased positive physical responses, and decreases in directives. Parents suggested that their children's behavior showed some improvement. (A literature survey and references are included.) (ABL)