Written to meet four objectives, this document (1) reviews the use of media in parent education, (2) evaluates the format and content of existing approaches, (3) formulates a philosophy to guide the development of new materials, and (4) makes specific recommendations regarding future parent education materials. Specific recommendations concerning the form and content of parent education materials are linked to the philosophy that human development and experience occur interactively within an interdependent community and that such a viewpoint should guide developers of parent education materials. Various audiovisual materials are judged to lack a specific focus and/or to lack sophisticated presentation; among the authors' recommendations is the suggestion that viewpoints regarding child development and parenting underlying materials be made more recognizable to consumers. A review of materials notes that the traditional focus within parent education has been on promoting mental health and cognitive development. Current parent education materials emphasize child rearing and parental responsibility in establishing guidelines for children's acceptable behavior; recent research investigates the outcomes for the increasing numbers of children placed in alternate child care by working women. (Author/DB)