Scale error is the phenomenon where young children’s dramatic failures when they attempt to use objects in a way that is impossible due to the object in question being either significantly too large or too small for the child to use. The first research dealing with scale error was published in Science in 2004. Over the past 10 years the number of foreign studies on scale error has grown rapidly. There remains however a decided lack of Chinese domestic research published on the subject. This paper is intended as a survey study of the available foreign literature on the topic of scale error so that it then may be used as a reference point and foundation from which to drive domestically localized research. An extensive review and analysis of foreign-sourced academic literature since 2004 served as the primary methodology in conducting this study. The majority of the available published research on scale error focuses on the definition, types, characteristics, influence factors, and causes of scale error as well as the difference between scale error and pretending. Although some researchers say that it is easy to distinguish scale error from pretending, but this is still relatively one-sided view. Simultaneously, there are still disagreements in many fields among different researchers. At present, there is some variance in theories regarding the driving factors behind the scale error. Deloache et al. (2004a,b) considered that those views about failure of inhibitory control and the dual process theories of visual processing can provide ideas for understanding the mechanism of scale error; Glover et al.（2004b）established the Planning–Control model and the perception–action model to interpret scale error; Casler et al.（2011）noted that children’s scale errors appeared to be elicited by purpose, rather than by size; Deloache et al. (2013）and Brownell et al. (2007) pointed that the immature body self-awareness was one factor underlying scale errors. Current list of studies collected data mostly by observation method. Too simple method becomes a big bottleneck of the research in scale error. We expect that in future research, more effective means will be found which can distinguish scale error from pretending; studies about influencing factors of scale error will be conducted in full-scale and research methods will be diversified and integrated; the objects and contents of study will be extended to include different cultural backgrounds. This paper is the first detailed analysis and summarization of foreign research on scale error in nearly a decade and included feasible suggestions for future research in the area.