A discussion of informed consent in research on children focuses on the history of informed consent and problems of obtaining informed consent from young children. It is argued that, in the past, researchers and research monitors have assumed that parents will act in the best interests of children participating in research and protect them from harm. However, the practice of using parents as proxy does not adequately meet the requirements for informed consent. While children may not be able to completely understand the research process and be truly informed, researchers believing in the value of informed consent and the rights of young children will take steps to help children be better informed subjects. Suggestions on how researchers can attend to the rights of young children are offered. Specifically, researchers must try to ensure that no harm comes to their subjects. They must explain the purposes and procedures of their study to young children. In conjunction with teachers, researchers should teach children what research is about. Researchers should be sensitive to children's needs and wishes in the research setting. It is concluded that the ethical treatment of subjects is always worth the extra effort. (RH)