Children and youths around the world are victims of domestic abuse, negligence being the most recurring category, which is associated with several harmful consequences for childhood development. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the phenomenon of childhood neglect and its consequences to the psychosocial and academic development of children in the initial stage of schooling in Brazil as well as the associated risk factors. To accomplish these objectives, the features of the caregivers and children with ages ranging from six to eight, were investigated which was organized in three groups. The first group (group 1) was formed by cases of neglect notified to the Child Protection Council; the second group (group 2) was formed by suspect cases of neglect, but not notified to the Child Protection Council, based on their school teachers´ observation; the third group (group 3) was also formed by indications of the school teachers, but by children not suspected to be neglected (reference group). Each group consisted of thirty dyads of child-caretaker. After carrying out all the relative procedures to the ethical issues, the Child Protection Council, schools and children were contacted. After obtaining the necessary authorizations, the data collection was accomplished, through the following instruments: Questionário de Caracterização Sociodemográfica (socio-demographic questionnaire); Child Abuse Potential Inventory-CAP; Child Neglect Index; Child and Youth Behavior Inventory, 6-18 years-CBCL; Child and Youth Behavior Inventory, 6-18 years/Teacher Report Form-TRF and Teste de Desempenho Escolar-TDE (School performance test). To describe the sample's profile of the groups, statistical analyses were performed. The results show similarities between groups 1 and 2, which, in contrast, are quite different from group 3 concerning several characterization variables. They are conceived as risk factors, highlighting families with lower socioeconomic status, lower education level of the caregivers and the lowest age of the mothers when the first child was born. Moreover, the caregivers of groups 1 and 2 also show higher potential risks for abuse than those of group 3. Furthermore, more neglect indicators were found in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3. Concerning the childhood development aspects and academic performances, children of groups 1 and 2, in general, show similar results, having shortfalls in several developmental aspects and learning difficulties at the beginning of the literacy stage. Based on these results, one can conclude that children notified as neglected and those of suspect cases expressed equally significant developmental problems during a sensitive period of their lives, the beginning of the literacy, giving rise to a huge concern since failure at this stage increases the chances of major drawbacks in their future. The scenario revealed by the present study points out the necessity of investments in children negligence prevention, supporting both scientific investigations and protective actions.