Observations of Chinese mothers and children at Rhodes Avenue (Toronto) English classes and nursery confirm the hypothesis that a high level of parental warmth-support and control tends to become, by Canadian standards, overprotectiveness, and tends to result in a submissive, dependent, over-socialized child. Dependency upon the mother for physical care and emotional support was most apparent among the younger Chinese children; the mothers' behavior revealed a level of control and discipline that did little to promote autonomy in their children. The theory that girls are more susceptible to over-protection and excessive discipline than boys was supported by the findings in this study. Girls were, on the whole, more submissive and dependent, more obedient and anxious to please. A trend that Bronfenbrenner claimed to be almost universal--that the parent is more lenient with the child of the opposite sex, was evident among Chinese mothers and their sons. This trend, together with the preference for sons in traditional Chinese culture, probably accounts for the more assertive behavior of the Chinese boys observed. (Author)