Noting that directors of early care and education programs face numerous challenges on a daily basis, this book is designed to provide real-world answers to common situations, in a format that directors can access immediately. The book is organized into seven chapters. Chapter 1 addresses staff-related challenges and includes a list of "how to's" on recruiting and hiring staff, conducting staff orientations, communicating effectively, handling sensitive subjects, conducting effective staff evaluations, handling gossip, addressing burnout, and creating a community. Chapter 2 concerns child-related challenges, with "how to's" on learning children's names, determining the director's classroom role, handling discipline, handling special diets and allergies, handling children's challenging life events, and creating classroom memories. Chapter 3 presents parent-related challenges, including "how-to" for giving tours, handling enrollment, dealing with overwhelmed and with academically minded parents, and creating memories for parents. Chapter 4 addresses detail-related challenges, including developing a vision for the center, scheduling, creating a website, budgeting, having an effective board of directors, and addressing director burnout. Chapter 5 concerns center-related challenges and includes "how-to's" for helping teachers learn to share materials and resources and handling security issues. Chapter 6 examines community-related challenges and includes "how-to's" for getting to know and connect with the community, bringing the community to the program, and working with other programs. Within Chapters 1 through 6, challenges are accompanied by suggested solutions, key points to remember, and suggestions for obtaining additional information. Chapter 7 concludes the book with suggestions specifically for directors of half-day preschool programs. Appended are sample forms and program activities, a list of essential books for a parent library, a list of resources on divorce, and suggested components for a parent handbook. The book concludes with a 167-item bibliography. (KB)