Part of a larger study of parents' practices regarding children's health, this report focuses on the relationship of such practices to parents' beliefs and knowledge about children's health. The study described factors influencing child health practices and sources of child health information used and preferred by parents. Also examined was the extent to which parents of preschoolers followed health promotion practices in the areas of nutrition, safety, dental and personal hygiene, immunization, sleep and rest, and exercise. Participants were parents of children 2 through 5 years of age who were enrolled in licensed day care centers in the 13 southern counties of a large midwestern state. The 65 centers were stratified according to sponsoring agency: 25 percent government Head Start, 6 percent college or university, 9 percent church, and 60 percent privately sponsored. A sample of 33 centers was drawn randomly from the four strata, providing a sample of 1,464 families. A survey instrument was developed, and 605 of the returned questionnaires were considered acceptable for analysis. Findings suggested that parents were interested in their children's health. Parents reported a high frequency of child health promotion practices. However, results indicated that practices in all seven areas could be improved. (RH)