Constipation is very common in children and can be characterized by a decrease in the number of bowel movements (≤2/week); dry, hard stools; difficulty in defecation (laborious and time-consuming); pain in defecation; and a feeling of incomplete defecation. The prevalence of constipation in children is reported to be 0.7%-29.6% (median 12%), of which 90% are functional constipation. The diagnosis of functional constipation in children is mainly based on the Rome III criteria. The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of functional constipation in children in 1999, which were updated in 2006 and 2014, and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) developed guidelines for the diagnosis and management of idiopathic constipation in children in 2010. Treatment strategies for functional constipation in children mainly include basic treatment, medication, behavioral treatment, surgical treatment, and follow-up. Basic treatment is based on family education, dietary modifications and lifestyle changes. It is important to drink enough water (including water in food and fruit juice), eat a balanced diet (encourage breastfeeding and increase the intake of dietary fiber), exercise appropriately, and reasonably toilet training (for children over 4 years old, toileting for 5–10 min after each meal every day). If basic treatment has not been effective for 2 weeks, medication should be started. Oral osmotic laxatives (polyethylene glycol or lactulose) or rectal laxatives are preferred for 3 to 6 days to relieve fecal impaction and restore regular, comfortable bowel habits as soon as possible. Once the laxative treatment is completed, maintenance treatment is started to prevent re-accumulation of fecal matter. Maintenance therapy includes dietary modification, medication and behavioral therapy, and can last up to 2 months. Medications used during the maintenance phase can be osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, stool softeners, or rectal administration. Osmotic laxatives are ions or molecules that are not readily absorbed by the intestinal tract and create an osmotic delivery in the intestinal lumen, keeping water in the intestines; and the added water dilates the intestinal lumen, stimulating peristalsis and softening the stool. Lactulose is indicated for all ages, while polyethylene glycol 4000 is domestically indicated for children over 8 years of age with constipation. Stimulant laxatives primarily increase peristalsis in the large intestine and promote secretion of water and electrolytes from the distal small intestine and colon to soften the stool. There is no information that osmotic laxatives induce long-term adverse effects such as electrolyte disturbances and mucosal damage, but there are few reports of safety evaluations of stimulant laxatives applied in pediatrics. Behavioral, psychosomatic, conventional and biofeedback therapies are used for specific subjects and are not recommended as routine treatment for constipation. Probiotics may be beneficial in the treatment of functional constipation, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence-based evidence. Medication should only be considered for tapering if it has been effective for 2 consecutive months and should not be stopped abruptly. Dosage reduction can be maintained for several months to observe changes in stool looseness and frequency of bowel movements until good bowel habits are established. Surgical treatment is suitable for refractory constipation, such as drug treatment is ineffective, long-term constipation or the need for manipulation of laxatives, can be taken to the smooth colon enema (appendicostomy) or sigmoidectomy. The treatment of constipation is long-term and usually recurrent, parents may seek treatment from several hospitals, so follow-up is particularly important. Emphasis should be placed on family education and health promotion, guidance on proper diet and lifestyle, and the use of non-pharmacological therapies. At the same time, attention should be paid to the warning signs and symptoms of constipation so that the diagnosis can be revised in time. In addition, multidisciplinary collaboration should be strengthened to improve the diagnosis and treatment of functional constipation in children.