Training Calendar

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.

October:

Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)
A variety of online classes are available in June for families, caregivers, parents, and the community.

Organization: Saddleback College FKCE
Audience: Orange County resource parents and kinship caregivers
Location: Virtual via Zoom/In Person
Dates: Click here (aqui para español) to view flier with class schedule
Fee: Free
Information: Click above to view the flier and click on the registration links to register. After registering, participants receive a confirmation email about joining the class. Call 949-582-4884 or contact scfkce@saddleback.edu for more information.

Engaging Exchange Online Conference: Protecting Play
"Childhood is no longer the sanctuary it once was, and child-led play is no longer recognized as the cornerstone of healthy growth. Instead, play is often viewed as a mere respite from learning rather than the biological necessity it truly is, on par with food, shelter, and safety," declared Deb Lawrence, President of the International Play Association USA in the introduction to a white paper on the importance of play.

Years of extensive research affirm that providing time, space, and appropriate adult support for children’s play leads to optimal learning and development. Yet, over the past decades, children’s play has been under threat as the focus on adult-directed activities has increased, time in nature has decreased, and educators feel increasing pressure to meet rigidly imposed learning standards.

Organization: Exchange Press
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025, 9 AM – 1 PM (12PM – 4 PM EST)
Fee: Free
Information: Registration is now open. Click here to register. For questions, please contact Exchange Press at 800-221-2864 or email info@exchangepress.com.

Father Fest 2025
The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) invites the community to join us for Father Fest 2025, a free and family-friendly event dedicated to celebrating and supporting fathers, male mentors, and the children and families they love.

The morning program is designed exclusively for fathers and male mentors to connect, learn, and be inspired. Highlights include:

  • Keynote Address by Jerry Tello — a nationally recognized author and speaker on fatherhood, healing, and community leadership.
  • Breakout Sessions on topics such as:
    • Parenting in the Digital Age
    • Positive Communication with Kids & Partners
    • Redefining Fatherhood: Healing, Heritage, and the Men We Choose to Be
    • The Power of Play
    • When You Transform, We All Transform

Families are invited to join for a backyard-style BBQ and festival featuring:

  • Arts and crafts
  • Reading corners
  • Games and competitions
  • Face painting and a photo booth
  • Guest appearances from the 501st Legion Star Wars costume group
  • A chance to learn how to DJ
  • And much more! 

Organization: TASK
Audience: Fathers, male mentors, and families
Location: Harbor Learning Center, 1240 N. Harbor Blvd. Anaheim CA 92801
Date: Saturday, October 4th, 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Fee: Free, Registration is required
Information: Click on the fliers to view the information and register; English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean. For any accommodations or questions, please contact Janis Price at jprice@ocde.us.

Lights On, Joy Up: Reframing Challenging Behaviors and Reigniting Your Purpose by Dr. Nefertiti Poyner

You may not always see it, but your work is extraordinary—and it matters more than most will ever know. Lights On, Joy Up is a high-energy, affirming session designed to honor the professionals who show up day after day with heart, hope, and an unwavering commitment to children—even those who express their needs through challenging behaviors.

This isn’t just a webinar—it’s a tribute to your impact, presence, and power to make a difference. Led by Dr. Nefertiti Poyner, this uplifting and interactive session invites you to reimagine how you view children’s dysregulated behaviors. Instead of seeing defiance, withdrawal, or disruption as roadblocks, you’ll learn to interpret them as powerful messages—calls for connection, regulation, and relationship.

You’ll leave with tools you can use right away—and a spirit renewed to match. This session is your standing ovation—a chance to pause, refuel, and remember: the work is hard, but so are you. And the light you bring? It matters more than you know.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, October 8, 11 AM – 12:30 PM
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.

Classroom Management: Responding to Challenges with Clarity, Composure, and Consistency
By October, the honeymoon phase of the school year has often ended. Expectations are being tested, routines may be breaking down, and student behavior can become more challenging. In this webinar, educators will learn tools for regaining momentum, reestablishing clear expectations, and navigating classroom disruptions with poise.

Participants will explore high-leverage strategies for preventing misbehavior through intentional structure and, when challenges do arise, for responding swiftly and professionally without sacrificing instructional time or student dignity. This webinar is ideal for any educator seeking to strengthen classroom management through clarity, composure, and restorative teaching practices—especially when things start to feel overwhelming.

Organization: University of Massachusetts Global
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Tuesday, October 14, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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.

Free Admission Day at Pretend City Children’s Museum
Pretend City Children's Museum, in partnership with First 5 Orange County, is hosting a Free Admission Day! This event welcomes both children and adults to enjoy a day of interactive, hands-on learning and creative play. Explore five fun activity stations designed to support growth and development for the whole family. 

Organization: Pretend City and First 5 Orange County
Audience: Parents and Child care providers of children ages 0-5
Location: Pretend City Children's Museum | 29 Hubble, Irvine, CA, 92618 
Date: Friday, October 17, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fee: Free, Registration is required
Information: Click here to register and view information for the event. 

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 and OC Health Care Agency
Audience: Parents and caregivers with children ages 0-5 years old
Location: Virtual via Zoom / In Person
Dates:

*Please click on dates above to view flyer

Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information or call 714-361-4381.

Active Parenting School-Aged Course
Gain help on how to build strong, healthy relationships with the children in your life. Join this six- or seven-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 6-12 years old
Location: Virtual via Zoom / In Person
Dates:

*Please click on dates above to view flyer

Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information or call 714-361-4381.

Active Parenting: Cooperative Coparenting Class
Join our interactive coparenting classes to build a stronger future for your child – together. This course offers essential information and support for parents who are separated or divorced. Participants will discover strategies to reduce conflict, improve communication, and successfully co-parent.

During this eight-part series, discuss such topics as: 

  • Child Focus
  • Letting go
  • Making it better
  • Defuse or Light the Fuse
  • Cooperation or conflict

Organization: Olive Crest and OC Health Care Agency
Audience: Parents, co-parents, and caregivers
Location: In Person
Dates: Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12, and 19, 5 PM – 7 PM

Tuesdays, October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, 25, and December 2, 5 PM – 7 PM

*Please click on dates above to view flyer

Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information or call 714-361-4381.

Beyond the Fence: Navigating Risk and Safety in Nature-Based Early Learning by Dr. Rachel Larimore
Early education educators around the world are becoming more enthusiastic about nature-based learning. Many are also curious about venturing beyond the fenced play area to more wild or natural spaces. However, one of the biggest questions is, “How do we keep kids safe when we leave the play area?” Author,  professional development provider, and consultant, Dr. Rachel Larimore from Samara Early Learning, will help you answer this question in this webinar!

This eye-opening webinar will first explore the differences between hazards, risks, and fears. Rachel will guide you in assessing risks in nature, such as potentially harmful plants, animals, weather, and topographic features. You will learn to analyze the hazards and risks in these spaces. This webinar will also help with the next step—identifying actions to take

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 11 AM – 12:30 PM
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.

Strong Bodies, Ready Hands: The Playground Path to Handwriting by Stacy Benge, M.S.
Children need movement to develop their bodies and brains; so, let’s embrace the bending, twisting, and wiggling! Join Stacy Benge, author of The Whole Child Alphabet: How Children Actually Develop Literacy, to uncover how fine motor function depends on stable gross motor skills.  You will explore ways to intertwine physical experiences throughout the day to offer fun, engaging, and meaningful experiences that support the development of both.  You will discover how to design a play environment that encourages movement and physical development. Leave with the confidence of knowing and explaining that the foundations of literacy and future reading and writing begin on the playground.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 11 AM – 12:30 PM
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.