Passive versus active service delivery: Comparing the effects of two parenting interventions on early cognitive development in rural China

•It is unclear that what delivery model of early childhood interventions may be most effective in developing countries.•We evaluate the effects of a center-based parenting intervention on early development and parenting practices in rural China.•We compare the effects to a home-based intervention using the same curriculum and public service system in the same region.•We find the home-visiting intervention was more effective than the center-based parenting intervention on child outcomes.•The difference in effects appears to be driven by different patterns of compliance.