Separating the child from the family by a real or simulated abandonment and registering in an orphanage generates frustration phenomena due to being deprived of family care, emotional security and also of psycho-social needs (connection, identification and communication). We have monitored a group of loo children, aged between 1-24 months at the registration date in the Orphanage, the fostering period being between 4 months — 3 years (an average of 18 months). There have been used the Gesell and Denver Il tests, paying particular attention to the cognitive behaviour. The assessments were made at the registration and every 3 months. Results: In comparison to the normal values obtained at the registration, the following assessments showed a constant deficiency in the cognitive behavioLir (values between 598O%). Conclusions: The obtained results prove, once again, the lack of stimulation which results from the separation from the family and the regression in the cognitive behaviour; The negative influence on the cognitive behaviour is more obvious as the separation was at a smaller age; The prognosis for the evolution ol this behaviour is more reserved as the separation period Iromn the lain ily environment is longer.