Provides background information on Fred Piaget, and describes his three stages of day care director development: pre-managerial, concrete managerial, and formal managerial. (HOD)

Presents techniques that directors of child care facilities can use to deal effectively with angry confrontations from parents and staff members. These techniques include listening to and rephrasing the complaint during the initial encounter; dealing with one's own anger in safe surroundings; and offering explanations or solutions to the…

Identifies the steps involved in changing behavior as a process over time: (1) becoming aware of desire to change; (2) announcing intentions and noticing actions; (3) recognizing detours and catching them during the act; (4) effecting change; (5) managing roadblocks; (6) reinforcing the changed behavior; and (7) completing the process of change.…

Offers suggestions for parents in dealing with a young child's anger when it manifests itself as hitting. Suggestions focus on impulse control and include the following: (1) describe appropriate behavior; (2) show and teach self-control; (3) uncover reasons for anger; (4) prevent out-of-control behavior; (5) calming techniques; (6) and controls…

Proposes a four-step plan for a child care center director to defuse a parent's anger: listen carefully; make sure the problem is well understood; acknowledge the parent's feelings; and explain the plan of action. Suggests that directors should let teachers and parents work together to correct and prevent problems. (AA)

Five articles explore how to manage difficult classroom behavior: (1) "Responding Professionally and Compassionately to Challenging Behavior"; (2) "Developmental Issues that Affect Behavior"; (3) "Norman and the Bunny: A Story," on children's responses; (4) "Hard Joys: Managing Behavior with a Creative Mind and a…