To provide data on the development of compliance and self-assertion toward mothers and fathers, 2-, 4-, and 6-year-old children were observed in their homes. Compared with younger children, older children were more compliant, more likely to use logical argument, and less likely to ignore or to show defiance. Two-year-olds showed more ignoring of their fathers, whereas 4-year-olds were more ignoring of their mothers and showed greater compliance to their fathers. Regardless of age, boys showed higher levels of compliance to their fathers, whereas girls did not respond differentially to mothers or fathers. Girls were, however, more likely to state their desires and preferences and to use logical argument. Further analyses suggested that none of the gender differences in child response were apparent artifacts of differences in parental treatment.Researchers from a variety of theoretical perspectives have argued that the development of self-regulation and control is central to the task of early socialization (e.g., Freud, 1908;Kopp, 1982;Luria, 1961;Mischel, 1974). As children learn to regulate their behavior and emotions in response to caregiver directions and commands, the foundations for social learning and internalization are established. Research has demonstrated that compliance and self-regulation begin in infancy and develop throughout the preschool years (e.g., Mischel, 1974;