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.
December
Toddler Storytime
Children 1-3 years old and their caregivers enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes,
Organization: Irvine Heritage Park Library
Audience: Children 1-3 years old and their parents or caregivers
Location: Irvine Heritage Park Library, 14361 Yale Avenue, Irvine, 92604
Dates: Thursday, December 19, 10 a.m.; and Tuesday, December 24; 11 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. Call 949-936-4040 for more information.
Play & Learn
Children of all ages have an opportunity to learn through play.
Organization: Irvine Heritage Park Library
Audience: Children of all ages and their parents or caregivers
Location: Irvine Heritage Park Library, 14361 Yale Avenue, Irvine, 92604
Dates: Thursday, December 19, and Tuesday, December 24; 10:20-11 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Call 949-936-4040 for more information.
Preschool Storytime
Children 3-5 years old and their caregivers enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes.
Organization: Irvine Heritage Park Library
Audience: Children 3-5 years old and their parents or caregivers
Location: Irvine Heritage Park Library, 14361 Yale Avenue, Irvine, 92604
Date: Thursday, December 19; 11-11:20 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. Call 949-936-4040 for more information.
Meet & Play
Babies, toddlers, and their parents or caregivers are invited to meet up and play. Children play and learn with toys in the children’s area. Parents or caregivers can meet others and share resources, and more!
Organization: Irvine University Park Library
Audience: Children 0-3 years old and their parents or caregivers
Location: Irvine University Park Library, 4512 Sandburg Way, Irvine, 92612
Date: Thursday, December 19; 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. Call 949-786-4001 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: Thursday, December 19, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. RSVP coming soon. Click here for more information.
Baby Storytime
Stories, songs, and rhymes, for babies 0-1 years old and their caregivers!
Organization: Irvine Heritage Park Library
Audience: Children 0-1 years old and their parents or caregivers
Location: Irvine Heritage Park Library, 14361 Yale Avenue, Irvine, 92604
Date: Tuesday, December 24; 10-10:20 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. Call 949-936-4040 for more information.
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: Irvine Katie Wheeler Library
Audience: Children 3-5 years old and their caregivers
Location: Irvine Katie Wheeler Library, 13109 Old Myford Rd., 92602
Dates: Tuesdays; December 24, and 31; 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to view flier. No registration required. Visit ocpl.org/libraries/irvine-katie-wheeler or call 714-669-8753 for more information.
January 2025
Waiting With Love Prenatal Class: 6-week series
Enhance your pregnancy and parenting journey with a series of group prenatal classes. Learn about the importance of physical and mental health, social connections, and how to access resources. Special guest speakers include a doula and fatherhood specialist.
Organizations: OC Prenatal Connect and Help Me Grow
Audience: Parents expecting a baby
Location: MOMS, 1128 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, 92703
Dates: Wednesdays, January 8-February 12, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and scan QR code to register or call 714-972-2610 for more information.
The Daycare Myth: Dan Wuori’s Myth-Busting Blueprint for Change
Join this webinar to:
- Identify major lessons from the science of early development.
- Analyze common public policy practices in comparison to the three simple truths of early development.
- Identify innovative practices designed to support optimal development.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, January 9, 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.
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 the Brink of Leadership Burnout to Your Link to Stability
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.
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 with children who are not yet toilet trained
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, January 23, 9:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. More information 949-936-8624 or SchoolReadiness@IUSD.org.
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 2025
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.
