This article discuss children and adolescents work mainly in poor classes in Brazilian society. The relationships between family, socialization and work are emphasized. The discussion is based first of all in a brief historical review of the subject: The work in childhood and youth, till the last law proposed in brazilian society- ECA; second in pointing the real gains and the conflictual ideas behind the fights against the work of children and adolescents, specially when it is considered the physical, psychological and social development of them.
childhood work; poverty; family; socialization