It has been commonly reported that parents have a major impact on the physical activity habits of hearing children (Anderssen & Wold, 1992; Biddle & Goudas, 1996; Kimiecik & Horn, 1998; Stucky-Ropp & DiLorenzo, 1993). It has been reported that parental influence is affected by their attitudes and values toward physical activity (Sallis & McKenzie, 1999). Whether parents have the same influence on their deaf children’s physical activity habits is unknown. This information is important because deaf children have been found to have lower fitness levels than their hearing peers and physical activity helps to promote appropriate levels of physical fitness (Goodman & Hopper, 1992; Pate, Pratt, Blair, & Haskell, 1995). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of parents’ attitudes and values toward physical activity on their deaf children’s activity levels. Parents’ were categorized into three groups based on their hearing status: both hearing (N=70), both deaf (N=19) or one hearing/one deaf (N=4). Parent’s completed a 5-point Likert questionnaire regarding their attitudes on the physical aspects of physical activity participation (1=not important to 5=very important) and values toward physical activity participation (semantic differential scale with “value sports more” on the 5 point end and an opposite non-active term such as video games on the 1 point end). Attitudinal questions related to the benefits of physical activity, such as increased stamina and decreased body fat, and how important the parent believed that to be for their child. Value questions examined whether parents felt participating in physical activity was more important than less vigorous activities such as homework or watching television. Children’s physical activity habits were based on the number of regular physical activities participated in per week. The results indicated that deaf parents demonstrated more positive attitudes (M+SD=4.30+.61) and values (M+SD=3.22+.74) toward physical activity than did parents who were both hearing (attitudes M+SD=4.01+.66; values M+SD=2.66+.59) or one hearing/one deaf (attitudes M+SD=4.21+.81; values M+SD=2.79+.78). In addition, children with two deaf parents demonstrated higher physical activity and fitness levels than did children with at least one hearing parent. This information would indicate that deaf parents possibly understand the importance of their children’s activity participation better than hearing parents and may be more encouraging to their children’s involvement.Keyword(s): adapted physical activity, physical activity