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.
March
Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)
A variety of online classes are available in March 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.
Beyond Behavior Management: Coaching for Lasting Change and Emotional Growth in Early Childhood Education (ECE)
Gain the necessary tools to support staff in creating calmer, more positive learning environments. Learn actionable techniques that help teachers adopt a proactive, intentional approach, reducing reliance on reactive responses and creating a foundation for positive child development.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, March 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.
Anti-Bias Training for Caregivers: Unlock the Power of Perspective
Explore how one can nurture a child’s natural sense of wonder while guiding them toward a more inclusive and unbiased perspective of the world around them. In this interactive workshop, participants will:
- Unpack the science behind bias and its role in our daily lives.
- Reflect on how our experiences influence the way we see others.
- Discover strategies to help children grow with an open mind, free from limiting stereotypes.
Organization: Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children (OCAEYC)
Audience: Early childhood educators and caregivers
Location: Virtual or in-person, Pretend City Children’s Museum, 29 Hubble, Irvine, 92618
Date: Thursday, March 6, 6-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register for in-person event. Click here to register for virtual (Zoom) event.
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
Dates: Friday, March 7, and Tuesday, March 18, 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.
Let’s Go Potty
Discuss suggestions on how to start toilet training with your toddler.
Organizations: The Priority Center and Services for Families with Young Children
Audience: Parents and caregivers having young children not yet potty trained
Location: Virtual
Date: Monday, March 10,11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and scan QR code to register.
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, March 11, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. RSVP coming soon. Click here for more information.
Listening In: Lessons from Infants and Caregivers in Early Relational Health
In this webinar, participants learn to:
- Understand the value of working from a stance of not-knowing.
- Recognize the perspective of infant, caregiver, relationship, and culture.
- Describe the role of mismatch and repair in healthy and derailed infant development.
- Apply core principles of early relational health to the setting of early childhood education.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, March 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.
Social Emotional Development in Children
Discuss how parents can help their children regulate their emotions, communicate, and more.
Organizations: The Priority Center and Services for Families with Young Children
Audience: Parents and caregivers having young children 0 – 5 years old
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, March 12,11 a.m.-12 p.m. or 5-6 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and scan QR code to register.
Frustrating Temperament Traits: Strengths-Based Approaches To Ensure Young Children Thrive
In this webinar, participants will:
- Identify nine different temperament traits that are typically present from birth.
- Consider how the mix of adult and child traits can fuel difficulty and increase stress for adult and child alike.
- Discover several strategies to adapt care to provide a good fit for children with high-intensity, high-persistence, and slow-to-warm traits.
- Discover several strategies to adapt one’s care to work with traits that may be disconcerting in group settings to ensure success for all.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, March 19, 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.
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 four- or five-part 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: Wednesdays & Fridays, March 19-28, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information or call 714-243-4292.
Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Parent Education Series: Supporting Language Development
Gain practical strategies to enhance your child’s language skills, from expanding vocabulary to encouraging effective communication. Learn fun and easy ways to support your preschooler’s language development through everyday activities and positive interactions.
Organization: IUSD ECLC
Audience: Parents or caregivers of young children ages 0-5.
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, March 20, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. For more information call 949-936-5882 or email SchoolReadiness@IUSD.org. To view the Parent Education 2024-2025 Calendar, please click here.
Child-Led Play Leads to Early Literacy
Explore the fundamental elements of literacy—language, visual perception, phonological awareness, and physical development—and discover how child-led play develops these skills. Learn how to create environments that promote child- led play and gain key talking points to connect all types of play to literacy development. Walk away with a commitment to embrace, implement, and advocate for child-led play!
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 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.
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: Thursday, March 27, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. RSVP coming soon. Click here for more information.
Active Parenting School-Age Course
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, and anyone who impacts the lives of children are welcome to join. Learn valuable skills including how to communicate effectively, avoid family conflicts, and balance discipline with affection. During this six-session series discuss common parenting challenges including:
- Cooperation and communication
- Responsibility and discipline
- Building courage and self-esteem
- Understanding and redirecting misbehavior
Organization: Olive Crest
Audience: Parents and caregivers with children ages 6-12 years old
Location: Virtual
Dates: Thursdays, March 27-May 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information.
The Early Years: Infant/Family/Early Childhood Trainings for the Workforce
Join this training to understand the impact of trauma on the developing child. Additional 2025 trainings include:
- Friday, May 30: Foundations of Healing - Trauma Informed Practices
- Friday, September 5: Caring for Ourselves and Others - Protecting Caregivers from Burnout
Organization: Start Well
Audience: Early childhood educators and caregivers having children 0-5 years old
Location: OC Behavioral Health Training Center, 750 The City Drive, South, Room 750 B, Orange, 92868
Date: Friday, March 28, 10-11:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier for all Start Well 2025 trainings and scan the QR code to register or click here to register for one or all trainings. Virtual option available (Zoom link sent the day before the training). Spanish translation and Certificate of Attendance available for all in-person attendees.
Autism Moms Connect
A social group for moms of children with autism – any age, any stage. Build friendships, exchange experiences, and connect with other moms who understand.
Organization: CHOC Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center
Audience: Moms having children with Autism
Location: Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, 170 S. Main St., Orange, 92868
Dates: Ongoing, last Friday of the month (March 28)
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. To RSVP or for more information email kathryn.walton.turner@choc.org or call 714-288-7651.
2025 Annual Conference: Whole Child, Whole Family, Whole Community - Early Childhood Matters!
This conference serves hundreds of early childhood educators throughout Orange County and features an inspiring keynote plus breakout sessions for infant/toddler, preschool, transitional kindergarten, and family child care programs.
Organization: Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children (OCAEYC)
Audience: Early childhood professionals and caregivers
Location: The Knott’s Hotel, 7675 Crescent Ave., Buena Park, 90620
Date: Saturday, March 29, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fee: $195 (OCAEYC members), $235 (non-members). Click here to join OCAEYC.
Information: Click here for more information. Price of admission also covers parking, a continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack. Click here to register. Contact OCAEYC@pretendcity.org for registration assistance, group pricing, and invoicing.
April
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
Dates: Tuesday, April 1, and Thursday, April 17, 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.
Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)
A variety of online classes are available in April 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.
Pretend City Good-To-Go Fair
A resource fair designed to provide all families with information they will need to ensure that both themselves and their children are prepared to successfully begin their first experience at school. Attend this fair and learn about the following:
- Healthy development and milestones
- Literacy, creativity, math, and STEM
- Speech and language
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Local schools and organizations
- Free health screenings
Organization: Pretend City Children’s Museum
Audience: Families with young children 0-5 years old
Location: Pretend City Children’s Museum outdoor parking lot, 29 Hubble, Irvine, 92618
Date: Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. Click here for more information or email g2g@pretendcity.org.
Imaginology
Free family event that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) education. Participate in a wide range of fun and educational hands-on activities designed to inspire and encourage academic and career exploration.
Organization: Orange County Fair & Event Center Staff
Audience: Children (preschool to high school), families, and school groups
Location: Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 92626
Date: Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fee: Free admission (parking is $12)
Information: Click here for more information. Click here to view program.
Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Parent Education Series: Raising Confident, Competent Children
Explore strategies to help build your child’s self-esteem and independence. Learn how to foster a growth mindset, encourage problem-solving, and create an environment where your preschooler feels empowered to take on new challenges with confidence.
Organization: IUSD ECLC
Audience: Parents or caregivers of young children ages 0-5.
Location: Virtual
Date: Friday, April 25, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. For more information call 949-936-5882 or email SchoolReadiness@IUSD.org. To view the Parent Education 2024-2025 Calendar, please click here.
Autism Moms Connect
A social group for moms of children with autism – any age, any stage. Build friendships, exchange experiences, and connect with other moms who understand.
Organization: CHOC Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center
Audience: Moms having children with Autism
Location: Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, 170 S. Main St., Orange, 92868
Dates: Ongoing, last Friday of the month (April 25)
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. To RSVP or for more information email kathryn.walton.turner@choc.org or call 714-288-7651.
May
Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Parent Education Series: Meaningful Summertime Activities
Explore strategies to help build your child’s self-esteem and independence. Learn how to foster a growth mindset, encourage problem-solving, and create an environment where your preschooler feels empowered to take on new challenges with confidence.
Organization: IUSD ECLC
Audience: Parents or caregivers of young children ages 0-5.
Location: ECLC, 1 Smoketree Lane, Irvine, 92604
Date: Friday, May 23, 12-1 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. For more information call 949-936-5882 or email SchoolReadiness@IUSD.org.
Autism Moms Connect
A social group for moms of children with autism – any age, any stage. Build friendships, exchange experiences, and connect with other moms who understand.
Organization: CHOC Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center
Audience: Moms having children with Autism
Location: Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, 170 S. Main St., Orange, 92868
Dates: Ongoing, last Friday of the month (May 30)
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. To RSVP or for more information email kathryn.walton.turner@choc.org or call 714-288-7651.
