Although the preschool years have been identified as an ideal time for teaching children about health and for establishing positive health beliefs and behaviors, little research has been carried out on health education for young children. The major purpose of this descriptive study was to determine how parents and clay-care teachers perceived the methods that they used to provide health education for preschool-age children. The data were collected using guided interview schedules developed by the investigator. The total sample was composed of 34 day-care teachers and parents with preschool-age children enrolled full time in five day-care centers in Seattle, Washington. The teaching methods of role modeling, discussion, audiovisual aids, reading materials, field trips, and games were investigated in the areas of physical, mental, developmental, dental, and nutritional health education. Role modeling was the most popular method used by both parents and teachers. Health professionals were not perceived to be a major influence on children's learning about health. As patient education is considered a primary function of nursing, pediatric nurses in offices and clinics should take a leading role in health education for preschool-age children. With an accessible population of young children in day-care centers, what better place for nurses to get involved in health education?