Recapitulation theory played an important role in the early pedology research movement in both the East and the West, and its influence on the studies on children, including biology, psychology, anthropology, literature and education, was no less than Darwin’s theory of biological evolution. Up to now, it still exists in different forms and ways and influences the studies on children. Reviewing the development of this theory and analyzing its actual influence is of crucial significance for building a discourse system for the studies on children with Chinese characteristics. Through Vico, Hegel, Haeckel, Hall, Baldwin, Lvy-Bruhl and Piaget, recapitulation theory has gone through a complex history and has been constantly revised. Its accurate expression is “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.” The core ideas are mainly reflected in three aspects: biology, psychology and social culture. From the biological aspect, the development of higher organisms has to go through a process from simple to complex, from homogeneous to heterogeneous, from general to special. From the psychological aspect, it emphasizes that the spiritual development of children follows the development process of human species. From the social culture aspect, the “Four Beliefs” have both scientific nature and limitations. The theory directly promoted the emergence and development of children psychology and children literature, as well as the new education reform movement at that time. However, it also had historical limitations, such as mechanical analogy, linear thinking and white supremacy, which were gradually revised by later researchers. Therefore, in the new era, studies on children in China should learn from it, avoid racial, ethnical or cultural hegemonism and various kinds of ideological prejudice, promote localized and interdisciplinary in-depth research, and strengthen dialogue with countries of different civilization in the world, so that the conclusions reached through academic research can really benefit children in reality.