A national sample of parents of young children, representing demographic and cultural diversity, participated in a needs assessment study for the development of a television series on effective parenthood. A questionnaire containing 60 forced-choice items and one open-ended question was sent to each subject. Responses from 1,799 parents indicated: (1) the series should emphasize knowledge and skills in humanistic approach to parenthood and to early childhood development; (2) television and accompanied reading materials were the most preferable instructional strategies; and (3) programs concerning realistic situations and experts' opinions were favorable. (SC)