Twenty 2- to 5-year-old children were observed during separate play with their mothers and fathers in an attempt to more clearly define patterns of touching. Specific purposes of the study were: (1) to identify the different functions of touch; (2) to determine the frequency of occurrence and duration of different types of touches; (3) to describe patterns of touching by mothers, fathers, boys, and girls; and (4) to describe patterns of touching between same and/or cross sex parent/child pairs. Each participating child came to a laboratory playroom twice, once with each parent. During each visit, the parent and child played with specific toys and read a book together. Play sessions, which were videotaped, lasted 30 minutes. Two coders analyzed all videotapes and recorded instances of touch, coding for type and duration in seconds. Coders also noted who initiated the touch. Categories of touch behavior developed from pilot tapes were utilized; these included comfort, attention, negative touch, help, and "object" (treating the other person as an object). Results are discussed. (RH)