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.

November:

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.
 

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.​

Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)
A variety of online classes are available in June for families, caregivers, parents, and 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 flyer with class schedule
Fee: Free
Information: Click above 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(link sends e-mail) or 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.
 

Narratives That Nurture: Storytelling as a Tool for Connection and Change in Preschool Classrooms by Kate Shelley
Step into the world of storytelling and discover its transformative power in early childhood education. In this heart-centered, inspiring session, you’ll explore how storytelling can do far more than entertain - it can uplift, empower, and connect.

In this webinar, storytelling expert Kate Shelley will help you uncover how the simple act of sharing stories can become a powerful tool for supporting children’s communication and language development, building social-emotional skills, and offering hope - especially for children with special needs and disabilities, as well as those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Whether you're working to strengthen relationships, encourage resilience, or promote inclusion, storytelling offers a bridge between hearts and minds.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 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.
 

Way To Play Day
Way to Play Days are held on the 2nd Friday of every month. This event allows parents and caregivers to complete free health screenings including developmental, dental, vision, and/or speech. Local child development experts are on site to provide information and assist grown-ups with questions they may have regarding their child’s development.

Organization: Pretend City
Audience: Orange County families, kids, caregivers, and therapists.
Location:  29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
Dates: Friday, November 14, 10:00 AM
Fee: Free - *Admission ticket is NOT required to have screening completed
Information: Registration is not required. For questions, please contact Pretend City at 949-428-3900 or email them at info@pretendcity.org
 

Neurodivergent Family Night
Join us for a free evening where children and caretakers are invited to play in a sensory friendly neuro-affirming environment! We encourage the whole family to attend, and therapists can join as well.

Neurodivergent Family Nights are held on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month from 5-7 pm (after we close to general admission). On these nights, we dim lights in the museum, turn off sounds, and offer a limited capacity of 250 guests. Staff are happy and ready to assist with providing various materials including noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, sunglasses and weighted materials for your convenience.

Organization: Pretend City
Audience: Orange County families, kids, caregivers, and therapists.
Location:  29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
Dates: Tuesday, November 11, 5 PM – 7 PM
Thursday, November 20, 5 PM – 7 PM
Fee: Free - *Registration is required and opens two weeks prior to each event. 
Information: Click here to register. For questions, please contact Pretend City at 949-428-3900 or email them at info@pretendcity.org
 

Immigrant Rights in Child Care Settings
In these challenging times, when uncertainty and fear weigh heavy on so many in our community, we want you to know one thing: you are not alone. 

The Child Care Law Center stands in solidarity with child care providers and families, many of whom are immigrants. We believe in a future where every child is cared for, every family is supported, and every provider is valued and paid fairly for the essential work they do.

Organization: Child Care Law Center, Public Council, and East Bay Community Law Center
Audience: Parents, caregivers, and child care providers
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Dates: Tuesday, November 4, 6 PM – 7 PM
Thursday, November 6, 6 PM – 7 PM
Friday, November 14, 6 PM – 7 PM

Fee: Free
Information: Click the dates above to register. For questions, please contact Child Care Law Center at ginterianobrown@childcarelaw.org
 

Be Your Program’s Thermostat: Your Role in Creating a Positive Environment by Kristen Darling, BS.Ed, M.P.P. and Liza Pringle, B.S., M.Ed.
Do you feel like the ‘temperature’ in your learning setting is too hot or too cold some days? Are children or colleagues having trouble connecting with or working and playing together productively? Are you struggling to get a handle on what’s wrong? You are not alone! Join this exciting session by Kristen Darling, MPP, for a reflective journey on your role in setting the thermostat (rather than just reading it!) and creating the kind of learning environment in which both children and staff will thrive.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 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.
 

The Science of Play: A framework for deep, joyful, and developmentally essential learning by Amanda Morgan, MS
Play isn’t a break from learning—it is learning. Yet in classrooms around the world, play is often the first thing squeezed out by mounting academic pressures. In this eye-opening session, Amanda Morgan—author of Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood—will explore why play is not only developmentally appropriate, but developmentally essential for all children.

Blending research, real-world examples, and her signature warmth and wit, Amanda will guide you through the Recognize–Emphasize–Maximize Method—a practical framework for making play purposeful and powerful in any early childhood setting. Whether you're a teacher on the ground or a leader shaping program direction, this session will reframe the way you view play—and inspire you to champion it with clarity and confidence.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, November 6, 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.
 

The New Supervisor Survival Guide for Success and Beyond by Anisha Angella
Starting your journey as a new supervisor in early childhood education is a big step — and it’s okay if it feels a little overwhelming. Whether you're feeling excited, unsure, or somewhere in between, this session was created with you in mind.

In this interactive and supportive webinar, led by CEO of the Early Childhood Coach, Anisha Angella, you’ll gain practical tools and real-world strategies to help you confidently step into leadership. We’ll explore what it truly means to lead in ECE, starting with how to build meaningful connections with your team, children, and families. You’ll learn how to communicate with clarity and confidence, navigate challenges, and create a positive team culture — even in those moments when things feel tough.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, November 13, 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.
 

SING.PLAY.LOVE. Supporting Early Language and Parent-Child Relationships with Music and Play by Anne Meeker Watson, PhD
How can music and play become your most powerful tools for supporting early learning and building strong, connected relationships with young children?

Join Anne Meeker Watson, PhD, MT-BC, nationally recognized music therapist, early interventionist, and founder of the SING.PLAY.LOVE.® program, for an engaging and inspiring session on how to use joyful, developmentally-rich musical experiences to nurture both brains and hearts. With decades of experience working alongside families and educators, Dr. Meeker Watson shares her proven approach to weaving songs, movement, playful rituals, and family engagement into daily routines to support early language development, social-emotional growth, and strong parent-child bonds.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, November 19, 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.