<p>The literature about behavioral problems in childhood points out the importance of the study of its prevalence to prevention and treatment, however, studies of the influence of gender and education are scarce. This study aimed to describe and compare, as assessed by caregivers, the occurrence of behavioral problems considering gender and education of the child, and evaluate the influence between behavior problems and academic performance. Caregivers of 90 preschool children and of 96 school children participated. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was applied. The results showed a high prevalence of behavioral problems, with prominence of boys. 56.86% of them with externalizing and total problems. The comparison of categories that both versions of the CBCL (preschool and school) have in common shows that emotional problems and anxiety problems differentiated the groups. At school age more children had problems. Lower scores of academic performance were noted at the group with behavior problems.</p>Key Words: Behaviors’ problems, childhood, family.