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.
January
Spring Orange Coast College (OCC) Child Development Classes
Don’t miss these classes offered only during Spring semester. Registration open now. Online and in-person classes.
CDE 102: Teaching in Elementary Settings
CDE 182: Middle Childhood Development - waitlisted
CDE 211: Strategies for Inclusion
CDE 261: Learning Title 22 (hybrid)
CDE 174: Collaborating with Families (Special Needs)
CDE 220: Infant & Toddler Programs
CDE 264: Trauma Informed Care
CDE 276: Early Childhood Management
Organization: OCC, Child Development and Education Department
Audience: Early childhood professionals and caregivers
Location: Online and in person, OCC, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, 92626
Dates: Click here to view class schedule. Select VIEW ONLINE SCHEDULE and use filter to select CDE classes.
Fee: Unit fees apply
Information: Click here to register. For more information contact dkass1@occ.cccd.edu.
Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)
A variety of online classes are available in January for families, caregivers, parents, and community.
Organization: Saddleback College FKCE
Audience: Orange County resource parents and kinship caregivers
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Dates: Click here to view flier with class schedule
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier and click on registration links to register. After registering, participants receive a confirmation email about joining the class. Call 949-582-4884 or contact scfkce@saddleback.edu or for more information.
Neurodivergent Family Night
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. This is a recurring event that occurs the 2nd Tuesday and 4th Thursday of every month.
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, January 14, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to RSVP. Click here for more information.
Transforming Challenging Behavior Through Visionary Leadership: The impact of culture when communicating with staff and families
It is natural for different people to view behavior through their own lenses and respond accordingly, often leading to conflict and confusion for all. Join this webinar to explore the role you play as a support to teachers and families when challenging behavior occurs by:
- Defining your role when challenging behavior occurs
- Recognizing the impact of culture on your leadership style when working with staff and families
- Creating partnerships
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, January 15, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend the live webinar, all registrants receive an email with the recording link the next business day after the live presentation.
From Burnout to Well-Being for ECE Leaders and Their Programs
Discover how to regain control and find stability through self-care, systems, and support. Learn how to safeguard yourself and your school from the brink, ensuring long-term success without sacrificing your well-being.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, January 22, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend the live webinar, all registrants receive an email with the recording link the next business day after the live presentation.
Training on Developmental/Behavioral Screening Tools
Two-part training: Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social Emotional (ASQ:SE-2). Part 1: Participants introduced to the benefits of developmental screening and features of the ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2. Part 2: Participants learn how to score with hands-on practice; describe and interpret cutoff scores; review sensitive communication of screenings results; and discuss appropriate follow-up and referrals.
Organization: Help Me Grow Orange County
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Dates: Thursday, January 23, and Friday, January 24, 9-11:30 a.m.
Fee: $55 for individuals living or working in Orange County
Information: Click here to register. Zoom link emailed to registered participants. Contact Lacey.Ginter@choc.org for more information.
Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Parent Education Series: Challenging Behaviors
Join us to discuss ways to manage challenging behaviors in early childhood and explore the meanings behind these behaviors. Gain insights and strategies to better understand and address your child's needs.
Organization: IUSD ECLC
Audience: Parents or caregivers of young children
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, January 23, 9:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. More information 949-936-8624 or email SchoolReadiness@IUSD.org. To view the Parent Education 2024-2025 Calendar, please click here.
Active Parenting First Five Years Course
Join this course to build strong, healthy relationships with your children, address children’s problem behavior, minimize problems that disrupt family life, and raise responsible, caring children. During this six-part weekly series, discuss such topics as:
- You and your child
- Preventing problems
- Encouraging positive behavior
- Preparing for school success
Organization: Olive Crest
Audience: Parents and caregivers with children ages 0-5 years old
Location: Virtual
Dates: Thursdays, January 23-February 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m. date links above
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information or call 949-764-8100.
Leading Teachers to Nature-Based Practices: Preparing Ourselves as Change Leaders
Explore the many social-emotional factors that impact your ability to lead change toward a nature-based teaching approach. During this session, we’ll discuss:
- Foundational principles of nature-based pedagogy;
- Inside, Outside, and Beyond as a metaphor for relationships;
- Individual character traits and how they influence leadership related to nature-based education; and
- How we can provide ongoing support for our teams through the shift toward nature-based approaches
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood program leaders and administrators
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, January 29, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend the live webinar, all registrants receive an email with the recording link the next business day after the live presentation.
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: Educators, parents, and caregivers
Location: Virtual
Dates: Thursday, January 30, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and Friday, January 31, 2-4:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register for January 30 session, and here for January 31 session. Upon registering, participants receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting for this workshop.
February
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: Wednesday, February 5, 9 a.m.–Noon
Fee: Free admission and parking
Information: Online reservations required for groups of 10 or more people. Click here for more information.
Leading with Trust: How to Let Go of Micromanaging and Foster Growth in Your Team
Discuss how leaders’ behaviors either attract or repel trust. Explore why micromanagement – while often cloaked with good intentions like “staying informed” or “being invested” – becomes “death by a thousand papercuts” to morale.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend the live webinar, all registrants receive an email with the recording link the next business day after the live presentation.
Strategies that Build Connection and Empathy with Children Using the Power of Perspective-Taking
“Perspective taking skills” refer to the ability to understand and consider a situation from another person’s point of view, encompassing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences and putting aside our own. Learning objectives:
- Gain information about perspective-taking and how it relates to empathy and kindness.
- Experience a wide variety of ideas, strategies, and examples that can be used in programs as well as share with families.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, February 6, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend the live webinar, all registrants receive an email with the recording link the next business day after the live presentation.
Thriving Temporal Environments for Young Children and Educators: Unlocking the Right P.I.T.C.H.
There are four types of early childhood program environments: physical, interpersonal, temporal, and curricular. When these four environments create harmony, the child care program has the right PITCH, and everything flows. When they do not work together, programs may be dysregulated.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, February 12, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend the live webinar, all registrants receive an email with the recording link the next business day after the live presentation.
Onboarding Newly Enrolled Families: A Key to Family Engagement, Satisfaction, and Retention
Learn how to create a replicable and comprehensive new family onboarding system that informs, educates, and welcomes families to your program. In this webinar, participants will:
- Learn why it is so important to educate families why early childhood programs offer open-ended experiences and developmentally appropriate practices.
- Learn how to help newly enrolled families set realistic expectations about your program and understand child care industry standards.
- Develop tools to create a family orientation that will alleviate common potential misalignment issues with families.
- Prepare to be proactive by educating families on common policies and procedures to avoid future issues.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, February 13, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. If unable to attend the live webinar, all registrants receive an email with the recording link the next business day after the live presentation.
Getting Ready for Pre-K and Kindergarten!
Provides an overview of Pre-K in IUSD, reviews enrollment and immunization requirements, and concludes with a Q & A session. The age requirement for Pre-K for the 2025-2026 school year includes children who will turn 5 years of age between September 2, 2025 - September 1, 2026 (all 4-year-olds are eligible). Learn more at this meeting.
Organization: IUSD Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC)
Audience: Parents with children turning 5 years old between September 2, 2024 – June 2, 2025
Location: ECLC Room 1 (Learning Link/Stepping Stones Areas), 1 Smoketree Lane, Irvine, 92604
Date: Friday, February 21, 12-1 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to register. More information at SchoolReadiness@IUSD.org.
