Originally published in 1933, the author’s ambition was to depict the child mind as revealed to us by psychoanalysis. It was not intended to teach the technique of psychoanalysis as applied to children or to formulate a methodology of education. The author starts by defining the concepts of psychoanalysis and children from his earlier title, dealing with psychoanalysis in relation to education: fundamental mechanisms; complexes; typical disturbances and methods. In this title he chooses to focus on complexes which he believed was ‘the heart of the matter’. A great opportunity to read an early interpretation of psychoanalysis and its application to children.