A longitudinal study tested the hypotheses that in relation to parents with an external locus of control, parents with an internal locus of control: would have a higher level of mother-infant interaction, would have more self-directing and less conforming values for children, and would have children who showed more academic competence. The initial sample consisted of 321 low-income women; all mothers were interviewed during the third trimester of pregnancy, and approximately 83 percent were interviewed at 4- and 12-months following birth. During the children's kindergarten year, interviews were completed with 233 mothers. A locus of control scale was included in interviews conducted during pregnancy, at 4 and at 12 months, and during the kindergarten year. Mothers were observed in child care situations during 4- and 12-month sessions and were rated on an attachment inventory. During 12-month and kindergarten interviews, maternal childrearing values and beliefs were measured on a version of Kohn's (1977) rank-order instrument of parental self-directing versus conforming values for children; and maternal beliefs about childrearing and education were measured on the Parental Modernity Inventory. The Classroom Behavior Inventory was used to collect teacher ratings of child academic competence and social adjustment at the end of the kindergarten year. Results indicated that maternal demographic variables, maternal locus of control, and maternal childrearing variables were intercorrelated predictors of child academic competence. (RH)