The Child Care Coordination Office compiles this list of workshops and training events for individuals caring for children in order to support all areas of children’s development from birth through elementary age. These events are organized by third-party organizations, unless otherwise noted, and are not managed by the City of Irvine.
Please see the upcoming live and virtual workshops listed below to continue your professional development or parent education journey.
To view a list of recorded webinars and self-paced online training modules, as well as additional resources, please visit our On-Demand Training and Resources page.
View trainings by date:
December
Foster and Kinship Care Education
A variety of online classes are offered during the month of December for families, caregivers, parents, and community, including:
- Cycle Breaker Cycle Maker: Helping Girls Build a Strong Identity
- Parenting During Uncertain Times
- Swipe Right: Empowering Caregivers to Guide Their Child’s Social Media Use
- Working with Birth Parents
- Positive Discipline for Traumatized Children
Organization: Saddleback College Foster & Kinship Care Education Program
Audience: Families, caregivers, parents and community involved with foster children
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Date: Click here to view December class schedule
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier and click on meeting link to register. Registered participants receive a confirmation email about joining the class.
Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Learning Link
Includes interactive activities for parent/caregiver and their child to do together. Professionals available to answer questions regarding parenting, cognitive/academic, and social/emotional development. Community resources and referrals also available.
Organization: IUSD ECLC
Audience: Parents or caregivers and their children 0–5 years old.
Location: ECLC, 1 Smoketree Lane
Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:45–10:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here for more information and to get started.
Registration: All parent guardians must complete District Volunteer Application and check in at the front office with a photo ready to be scanned.
English Storytimes
Parents/caregivers and children enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, and fun.
PJ Campfire Storytime (all ages) - Mondays; December 4, 11, and 18; 5:30 p.m.
Baby Storytime (0-1 years) - Tuesdays; December 5, 12, 19, and 26; 10 a.m.
Play & Learn (all ages) - Tuesdays; December 5, 12, 19, and 26; 10:20 a.m.
Toddler Storytime (1-3 years old) - Tuesdays; December 5, 12, 19, and 26; 11 a.m.
Toddler Storytime (1-3 years old) - Thursdays; December 7, 14, 21, and 28; 10 a.m.
Play & Learn (all ages) - Thursdays; December 7, 14, 21, and 28; 10:20 a.m.
Preschool Storytime (3-5 years old) - Thursdays; December 7, 14, 21, and 28; 11 a.m.
Baby/Toddler Storytime & Sensory Play (0-3 years old) - Wednesday, December 27, 10 a.m.
Organization: Orange County Public Libraries, Heritage Park Library
Audience: Parents and caregivers with young children.
Location: Irvine Heritage Park Library, 14361 Yale
Dates: See above for age recommendations, dates, and times.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. For more information call 949-936-404
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Introduces and reinforces basic reading, math, and social skills. Fun stories, songs, and more. Meet new friends and stay for a craft. Siblings are welcome.
Organization: Orange County Public Library: Katie Wheeler Library
Audience: Children 3–5 years old and their caregivers
Location: Irvine Katie Wheeler Library, 13109 Old Myford Rd., Irvine, 92602
Dates: Tuesdays, 11–11:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: No registration required. Click here to view flier. Visit ocpl.org/libraries/irvine-katie-wheeler or call 714-669-8753 for more information
Turning Your Child Care Program into an Inclusive Environment
Learn how to draft a powerful vision and mission statement, navigate the legal landscape of special education, and create policies and accommodations that meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Attendees will:
- Gain a deeper understanding of special education laws
- Learn how to create policies and accommodations that meet the needs of all children
- Discover how to support staff and collaborate with families and the community
- Learn how to create a truly inclusive environment that benefits every child
Organization: edWeb.net
Audience: Early childhood educators and care providers
Location: Virtual
Date: Tuesday, December 5, 11 a.m.-Noon
Fee: Free
Information: Click here register. Click here to learn about Continuing Education certificate.
Exceptions and Waivers
Learn more about exceptions and waivers and how these tools can support your facility operations and compliance efforts.
Organization: Community Care Licensing Division
Audience: Family and center-based licensed child care providers
Location: Virtual
Date: Tuesday, December 5, 6-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. This webinar will have simultaneous interpretation services in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. For any other reasonable accommodation or language access requests, email technicalsupportprogram@dss.ca.gov no later than five (5) business days before each event.
Active Parenting School-Aged Course
Join this six-part weekly series to discuss such topics as:
- The active parent
- Cooperation and communication
- Responsibility and discipline
- Building courage and self-esteem
- Understanding and redirecting misbehavior
- Active parenting for school and graduation
Organizations: Olive Crest and OC Health Care Agency
Audience: Parents and caregivers having children 6 – 17 years old
Location: Virtual via Zoom or in-person
Dates: Wednesdays and Thursdays, December 6-21, 9-11 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required, click here to view flier and registration instructions.
Overcoming Burnout in the ECE Workplace
Explore strategies for avoiding burn-out and low morale. Join this webinar to:
- Analyze your program’s current practices, as well as your own in regard to feedback loops and self-reflection and how it relates to mental health, environment, and leadership.
- Explore why mental health and optimism play a vital role in the lives of early childhood educators.
- Begin to create a wellness plan with actionable steps.
- Understand of the importance of mental wellness in early education.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, December 6, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend live webinar, all registered participants receive a link to the recording when it is ready to be viewed.
Positive Parenting Community Training: Healthy Self-Esteem
Gain tips on how to encourage a healthy self-esteem for your child.
Organizations: The Priority Center and Services for Families with Young Children (SFYC)
Audience: Parents and caregivers with young children
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Date: Wednesday, December 6, 11 a.m.-Noon, or 5-6 p.m
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and scan QR code to register. More information 714-559-0798 or email SFYC@ThePriorityCenter.org.
Why Father Inclusion is Important
Discuss the impact fathers have on their children, the different parenting techniques between mothers and fathers, and barriers to father involvement.
Organization: Orange County Fatherhood Coalition
Audience: Child care providers
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2:30-4 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Presenters include First 5 Orange County, Child Support Services, OC Department of Education. Click here to RSVP.
California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) Physical Development: Perpetual-Motor Skills & Movement Concepts
- Discuss how perceptual-motor coordination is the process of receiving, interpreting, and using information from all the body’s senses (visual, auditory, touch, smell, taste and kinesthetic) to carry out the physical output (a coordinated movement).
- Explain how movement concepts provide cognitive awareness of movement.
Organization: Orange County Department of Education
Audience: Early educators of children 4-6 years old
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, December 6, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register by December 4.
Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social Emotional (ASQ:SE-2) Two-Part Training
This training defines and discusses the benefits of ASQ-3 and ASQ SE (Social Emotional) developmental screenings, describe and interpret cutoff scores, review sensitive communication of screening results, and discuss appropriate follow-up and referrals.
Organizations: Help Me Grow and Children Hospital Orange County (CHOC)
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Dates: Thursday, December 7, and Friday, December 8, 9-11:30 a.m.
Fee: $55 for Orange County residents
Information: Click here for more information and click here to register. Zoom link sent to registered participants on Tuesday, December 5.
Demystifying Child Find
Learn more about Child Find mandates under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and how to meet obligations to identify, refer, and/or assess children who may have disabilities and require early intervention services. Learn about local resources and programs available for children and families including Help Me Grow and Early Start programs through Regional Centers.
Organization: California Early Childhood Special Education Network
Audience: Early childhood professionals and caregivers
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, December 7, Noon-1 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier. Click here to register.
Free Developmental Screening
Do you want to know if your child is developing accordingly to their age? Your child will be screened by early intervention specialist in these areas of development:
- Fine and Gross Motor
- Speech and Language
- Behavior and Emotional
- Health
- Dental
- Vision
Organizations: Family Support Network, Regional Center of Orange County, Bloom Behavior Coaching
Audience: Parents and their children 0 – 5 years old
Location: Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living, 307 Placentia Ave., Newport Beach, 92663
Date: Friday, December 8, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. (or first 50 children)
Fee: Free
Information: Click here for English flier. Click here for Vietnamese flier. More information 714-447-3301 or www.fsnn-oc.org.
Stress Management
Discuss strategies to help people better deal with stress and difficulty (adversity) in life. Participants will:
- Develop a general understanding of stress
- Identify common sources of stress
- Understand the stress response based on the interaction of thoughts, behaviors and emotions
- Identify strategies and techniques to reduce level of stress
Organization: Behavioral Health Training Collaborative
Audience: Parents and adults 18 years and over
Location: Virtual
Date: Friday, December 8, 2-4:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to register. Upon registering, participants receive the link to the Zoom meeting for this workshop.
Deeper Dive into Mindfulness
This training is for any participant who is eager to learn more in depth about the concepts of mindfulness. Participants will review and practice several different mindfulness exercises, learn more about the science behind mindfulness and recognize the differences between mindfulness and other relaxation activities.
Organization: Behavioral Health Training Collaborative
Audience: Parents and caregivers
Location: Virtual
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to register. Upon registering, participants receive the link to the Zoom meeting for this workshop.
Neurodivergent Family Night
Formerly known as Autism Family Night, happening twice a month. Join families with children and their parents, siblings or caretakers in an environment designed to be sensory-friendly. Socialize with other parents and meet community partners who specialize in supporting the neurodiverse community. Trick-or-Treating at five stations.
Organization: Pretend City Children’s Museum
Audience: Families with children of all ages from the neurodiverse community and with other disabilities
Location: Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine, 92618
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: RSVP required. Click here to RSVP.
California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) Mathematics: Number Sense
In this interactive session, participants will:
- Discuss key concepts in the number sense strand of the California Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1.
- Identify key strategies in the California Preschool Curriculum Framework, Volume 1, regarding number sense development.
Organization: Orange County Department of Education
Audience: Early educators of children 4-6 years old
Location: Virtual
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register by December 10.
Practical Ways to Help Kids Focus in the Early Childhood Classroom
Learn practical ways to engage kids in the early childhood classroom that will ultimately help them self-regulate so they can focus on learning while having fun. Learn to incorporate sensory self-regulation strategies by designing solid classroom routines, adding movement opportunities like brain breaks as well as using flexible seating and other manipulatives like fidgets to help kids participate to the best of their abilities.
Organization: edWeb.net
Audience: Early childhood educators and care providers
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, December 13, 11 a.m.-Noon
Fee: Free
Information: Click here register. Click here to learn about Continuing Education certificate.
Resilience – The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope
Learn about the biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. Discuss strategies and gain insight and hope on how each one of us can make a difference.
Organization: Behavioral Health Training Collaborative
Audience: Parents, adults, caregivers
Location: Virtual
Date: Friday, December 15, 2-4 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to register. Upon registering, participants receive the link to the Zoom meeting for this workshop.
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Learn why ACEs impact people’s lives, and what we can all do to dramatically improve health and resilience for this and future generations.
Organization: Behavioral Health Training Collaborative
Audience: Parents, adults, and caregivers
Location: Virtual
Date: Monday, December 18, 3-5 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. Upon registering, participants receive the link to the Zoom meeting for this workshop.
January 2024
The Power of “Rich Talk”: Conversational Strategies to Bond With and Build Young Children’s Skills
Explore the power of everyday conversation to strengthen bonds while helping children become kinder, more confident, and more creative. Enhance classroom dynamics and interactions and better understand children at all ages and stages of development.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Parents, early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, January 10, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend live webinar, all registered participants receive a link to the recording when it is ready to be viewed.
5 Essentials for Inspiring Young Learners with the Science of Reading
Discuss five essentials for Science of Reading success for early learners, including:
- Promoting functional literacy through studies
- Playing with pre-reading skills
- Teaching intentional literacy experiences
- Offering meaningful book discussions
- Inspiring families with modeled literacy moments
Organization: edWeb.net
Audience: Pre-K through third grade educators and care providers
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, January 10, 1-2 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here register. Click here to learn about Continuing Education certificate.
Strategies to Supercharge Professional Engagement
Studies show that appreciation in the workplace increases engagement and reduces employee turnover and absenteeism. During this webinar, explore:
- Positive communication techniques
- Appreciative inquiry strategies
- Daily practices for building engagement
- Ideas for infusing appreciation into your staff meetings
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Directors, supervisors, and professional development providers
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, January 11, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend live webinar, all registered participants receive a link to the recording when it is ready to be viewed.
Coffee & Conversation Saturdays: Voices in Field Advocacy & Public Policy
Learn about voices in field advocacy and public policy. Network with other early childhood professionals.
Organization: Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children (OCAEYC)
Audience: Early childhood professionals and caregivers
Location: Virtual
Date: Saturday, January 13, 10 - 11 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register.
Early Relational Health: A New Perspective on Your Role as an Early Care and Education Professional
Early Relational Health (ERH) is an emerging concept that organizes the cumulative understanding of the relational foundation of children’s and adults’ health and well-being. During this webinar:
- Explore the science and concept of Early Relational Health and connect and compare that with existing ideas in early childhood;
- Understand the importance of this inclusive “relationship-centered” framework in describing the work of early care and learning.
- Discuss the foundational principles of the early relational health profession in creating a healthy ecological system for children, families, and professionals.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend live webinar, all registered participants receive a link to the recording when it is ready to be viewed.
Discovery Days at Centennial Farm
During a Discovery Day, “farmers” are stationed around the farm available to answer questions and provide information. Upon check-in, participants receive a map to aid in getting around and seeing all Centennial Farm has to offer. Also includes an opportunity for children to pet a chick and plant a radish seed.
Organization: Orange County Fair & Event Center
Audience: Open to all ages
Location: OC Fair & Event Center, Centennial Farm, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, 92626
Date: Friday, January 19, 9 a.m.–Noon. Click here to view additional dates.
Fee: Free admission and parking
Information: Online reservations required for groups of 10 or more people. Click here for more information.
