This paper intends to present new challenges to the federal university units of children's education, with special regards to the Federal Constitution of 1988 that established an institutional role to those units that goes beyond what is defined for children's public education. In most of these units, such challenges lead to other functions besides teaching: research and extension. Taking this into consideration, this paper points out these units have to reflect upon the controversial issues still in discussion, and direct the discussions towards the development of an institutional project that clearly defines the roles of these children's units of education within universities.
Daycare centers in universities; Childhood in the university; Children's education; Daycare centers; Preschools