Abstracts of two symposium papers are provided, giving: (1) the results of a study of the effect of child-rearing practices on the cognitive development of children under 5 years of age in Jakarta; and (2) the results of an investigation of West German preschool children's preferences and abilities in relation to conceptual styles. Comparing 100 mothers of high socioeconomic status to 100 of low socioeconomic status, the first study (by Singgih D. Gunarsa of the University of Indonesia) found that children of high SES had better facilities, a more stimulating environment, and more varied life experiences. They also began to speak earlier than low SES children. The second study (by Matthias Petzold of the University of Dusseldorf, West Germany) found a distinction between children's preferences and components of competence and confirmed the assumption that cognitive competence influences children's preferences. A redefined analysis of the preference components suggested that there are no stable cogntive styles in childhood. The full papers are available from the editors of the conference. (RH)