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In her article, "Looking at the Quality of Early Childhood Programs" in the Exchange management guidebook, The Art of Leadership: Managing Early Childhood Organizations, Lilian Katz, makes these comments...

"The characteristics of a program that really predict its outcome are the answers to the bottom-up question, which is: What does it feel like to be a child in this environment?

"Obtaining answers to this question is not easy! It requires making the very best guess one can about how each individual child in this group experiences the program. We can proceed by asking about the environment on behalf of each child:

• Is it welcoming rather than merely captivating?
• Do I belong in the group rather than merely have a good time?
• Am I usually accepted by adults rather than scolded?
• Am I taken seriously rather than just precious or cute?
• Am I usually accepted by some peers rather than isolated, neglected, or rejected?
• Is this environment usually involving rather than entertaining?
• Are the activities meaningful rather than mindless?
• Are the activities engaging rather than amusing?
• Are the activities interesting rather than boring?
• Do I usually come here willingly rather than reluctantly?

"It seems to me that only when answers to most of these questions are positive can we assume that the quality of the program is worthy of our children."

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This week the popular Exchange guidebook and textbook, The Art of Leadership, is on sale at a 20% discount. The comprehensive guide includes contributions from the leading experts in the field (including Lilian Katz) on the following management areas...

• Leadership
• Advocacy
• Getting organized
• Legal issues
• Financial management
• Fundraising
• Personnel policies
• Recruiting and selecting staff
• Supervising and developing staff
• Evaluating your program
• Shaping your curriculum
• Working with parents
• Marketing your program
• Community outreach

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