This study investigated the representations of mothers helped by the Tutoring Counsel about “problem children”; the educational practices developed in facing the problem Eleven mothers of adolescents participated in the study, with children who presented some kind of problem - involvement with drugs, being at the street situation and/or practicing minor transgressions. We utilized an interview script with an evocation question, open questions. The material was analyzed using Bardin's thematic analysis. The results show that the representation of the mothers presents elements as: uncontrollable, weak mind and rebel. The causes seem to be centered in the personal and internal characteristics; friendships and the environment where they live; lack of control; need of acquirement of socially valued goods; and religious questions. The educational practices, though, are based on dialogue and advice. However, the mothers evaluate that the only practice capable of solving the problem of their children in internship. Nevertheless, what happens is that in most cases the application of this measure does not fall under the Tutoring Counsel capabilities, creating a gap between what is sought by the mothers and the measures applied by the Counsel in order to solve the problem.
Social representations; chilrearing practices; parent child relations