Findings of the study indicate that children's ethnic identity is stronger the more mothers endorse family obligation expectations and the more children perceive their parents' family obligation expectations. The results illuminate a narrow facet of the myriad of influences in the development of children's ethnic identity. Although much research has documented the benefits of a strong sense of ethnic identity, less is known about the processes that promote ethnic identity development. The purpose of this study was to examine the role that parents played in the development of ethnic identity among early adolescent children in Chinese immigrant families living in Canada. It specifically examined the relation between parents' family obligation expectations and children's feelings of ethnic identity and whether these relations were influenced by children's perceptions of their parents' family obligation expectations or the nature of parenting practices used in the home. Tables, figures, and references