Throughout history, violence against children has been manifested in every conceivable form: physically, emotionally, neglect, sexual exploitation, and cruel labor. Esteem for children has been slow to appear in history. In the 17th century, there was a shift from communal to family groups, and the child gradually achieved a place of honor in the family. Generally, protective services have consisted of institutionalizing children or placing them in foster care. In spite of good intentions, children have suffered physical and psychological damage under this system. Increasingly laws have been enacted to limit the rights of the father to manage his children as he wills. More and more the state has assumed the responsibility for seeing that parents treat their children according to community norms of humane parenting. Pediatricians have become central in the monitoring of parental treatment of children, since they are often the first persons outside the family to encounter evidence of child abuse. Current child protection laws are oriented toward the nonpunitive protection of children, helping families in crisis, preserving high standards of parental behavior, and providing for the optimum care of children in a harmonious family relationship. 57 references.