Ms Primarolo joined the winners of the Trust's art competition at the awards ceremony held at No 11 Downing Street, which was this year hosted by Maggie Darling, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.
The competition was sponsored by the Children's Mutual, which offers children's savings accounts.
First place in the pre-school category was shared by Mia Cooper, three, who attends Jingle Creche in Liverpool, and Sonia Taylor, four, from the Early Years Centre in Bath. Prizes were presented by Keith Chapman, creator of Roary the Racing Car and Bob the Builder.
The early years sector has warmly welcomed Ms Primarolo to her new role.
Steve Alexander, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, said, 'We look forward to working with her in the future. During her time as public health minister Dawn has had an impressive track record and a strong awareness of issues important to children's health and well-being.
'Dawn played an instrumental role in introducing the Change4Life campaign earlier this year. We hope she will be similarly keen to support the Alliance's Feeding Young Imaginations campaign, which is urging the Government to invest in early years nutrition and calling for national standards to be implemented across the sector.'
Chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, Purnima Tanuku, said, 'It is a challenging time for the sector, with the extension of the free early years entitlement and the current economic climate. NDNA is keen to see a continued approach to partnership working between private, voluntary and independent sectors in delivering for children and families. NDNA would like to wish the minister all the best in her new role.'