##article.abstract##
Research with children helps to produce knowledge for the improvement of their well-being. The vulnerability of minors, aspects concerning their participation in decision-making, as well as the asymmetry of their relationship with adults generate particular ethical issues and highlight the need for this population to receive special attention. <em><strong>Objective</strong><em> To examine ethical aspects that should be considered when designing and developing research with the participation of children. <em><strong>Materials and methods</strong><em> A search and documentary review was carried out in the EBSCO and SciELO databases, in addition to including texts and other documents on the subject. The categories and subcategories identified were used as thematic axes. Information was selected from the publication period of 1976-2017. <em><strong>Conclusion</strong><em> The design and development of ethical research requires that researchers propose relevant questions use sound theoretical assumptions and adequate methodologies know the characteristics, needs and expectations of children and comply with the core principles of research. These principles include respect for people, beneficence and justice—which is materialized in research contexts in the informed consent and assent—, guarantee of confidentiality and privacy, risk-benefit balance, equitable selection of research subjects, equitable distribution of benefits, balance of power relationships, and considerations about economic retribution to participants.