This article brings reflections about contributions of the historical-cultural theory in thinking about the role of childhood education on modern society. Identifies as a progress the process of institutionalization of childhood education with its effective integration to the education system, which requires the peculiarities of childhood to avoid a simple conformation in this educational stage to the model and finality of basic school education. Arrangements are made to the perspective of the historical-cultural theory as a teorical support to reaffirmation of childhood education with the finality of promoting the generate development among children, as symbolized by the Law of Directives and Basis for National Education (LDB). Vygotskian studies about the importance of play for human development e about process of development of thinking and your relation with speech provide elements to affirm that playing and the interactions as the guiding principles of the pedagogic proposes designated to children between 0 and 6 years old.
childhood education; Historical-Cultural Theory; childhood development