This paper presents the pioneering experience of the Programa Primeira Infancia Melhor (the Better Early Childhood Development Program), also known as "PIM" that has been developed since 2003 in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. PIM's goal is to "provide guidance to families, based on their own culture and experiences, to allow them to promote their children's holistic development from pregnancy to six years of age with emphasis on the first three years of life". PIM has been implemented so far in over 200 towns in Rio Grande do Sul through partnerships between state and local governments with technical cooperation provided by the UNESCO Brasilia Office. This paper in addition to outlining the tenets of PIM also presents an updated overview of Brazilian early childhood in terms of education, health and social indicators. Scientific findings in the field of early childhood and results from other programs focusing on this crucial period of development are also discussed in this work.