Renal scarring can cause hypertension, proteinuria, chronic kidney disease, and even end stage renal disease. To understand the risk factors of renal scarring in children is helpful for its early detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. High grade vesicoureteric reflux, recurrent urinary tract infection, and delayed treatment are risk factors for kidney scarring. However, there are still some controversies about the relationship between renal scarring and the some factors such as gender, age, and congenital factors. Recent studies have found that noninvasive urine indicators such as urine neutrophil gelatinase associated lipid delivery protein, urinary endothelin-1, and risk prediction models can predict the formation of renal scar. However, prophylactic use of antibiotics can reduce occurance of urinary tract infections, but do not reduce the risk of renal scarring. This article reviews the possible risk factors and predictors of renal scarring in children, providing a basis for early detection, timely intervention, and effective prevention of it in clinic, so as to reduce the formation and progression of renal scarring.