Primeira Infância em Primeiro Lugar (Early Childhood in the First Place)

This publication focuses on the period between zero and six years of age. It presents early childhood as an important life stage and describes the evolution of how this recognition came about, as well as studies, work, and actions that have occurred in the early childhood education field in Brazil. At the same time, the text highlights the struggles and the resulting achievements that ensure improved conditions in the development and well-being of children of this age group.

One of the articles describes the process through which the "Indicadores Calidad de la Educación de la Primera Infancia" (Quality Indicators in Early Childhood Education) was written. This article calls attention to certain societal aspects such as the transformation of the family and the growing participation of women in the labour market, both of which make the State’s presence even more important in guaranteeing programmes that favour the rights of children.

In other aspects, the publication includes the incorporation of "Early Childhood" as a theme in the National Constitution. It also includes a history of how the Red Nacional de Primera Infancia (National Early Childhood Network) was founded and how the proposal for a National Early Childhood Plan was written. Finally the country’s main experiences and strategies for early childhood are discussed.

The document was written through the work of the Brazilian National Early Childhood Network, which is made up of civil society organisations, the government, the private sector, and other networks and multilateral organisations that work for the rights of children in the early childhood age group in Brazil. The mission of the network is to foster national policy drafting and integration of policies directed at children between zero and six years of age, the promotion of validation, monitoring and evaluation activities, the consolidation and dissemination of knowledge and information about early childhood, and the organisation of social mobilisation activities to defend and promote their rights.