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.

February 

Human Development (HD) Courses at Irvine Valley College 

For current and aspiring teachers, registration open now. 

  • Language & Literacy Foundations (HD 145), starts Wednesday, February 26 (hybrid) 
  • Principals of Adult Supervision (HD 161) starts Monday, March 24 (online) 

Organization: Irvine Valley College 
Audience:  Adults working with children 
Location:  Online and hybrid 
Dates:  Spring 2025, registration open now 
Fee:  Unit fees apply 
Information:  Click here to view flier with course descriptions. Scan QR codes on flier to register. For more information contact  sclatterbuck@ivc.edu or 949-451-5601. 

Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)

A variety of online classes are available in February 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.

Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Parent Education Series: Toilet Training

Join us to discuss the best practices for toilet training your child in collaboration with the Priority Center. Learn valuable tips and techniques to make this important milestone smoother for both you and your child.

Organization: IUSD ECLC
Audience: Parents or caregivers with children who are not yet toilet trained
Location: Virtual
Date: Tuesday, February 4,  9:30-10:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. More information 949-936-8624 or SchoolReadiness@IUSD.org.

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: Tuesdays, February 4-March 11, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information:  Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information or call 714-243-4292.

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. Virtual courses are presented in Arabic, English, Korean, and Mandarin. During this six- or seven-session series discuss common parenting challenges including:

  • Cooperation and communication
  • Responsibility and discipline
  • Building courage and self-esteem
  • Understanding and redirecting misbehavior

Arabic: Wednesdays; February 5-March 12; 9-11 a.m.
English: Wednesdays; February 5-March 19; 5-7 p.m.
English: Thursdays; February 6-March 13; 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Korean: Thursdays; February 6-March 13; 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Mandarin: Wednesdays; February 5-March 12; 6-8 p.m.
Mandarin: Thursdays; February 6-March 13; 6-8 p.m.

Organization: Olive Crest
Audience: Parents and caregivers with children ages 6-12 years old
Location: Virtual
Dates: Click on date links above to view flier and registration information.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click on date links above to view flier and registration information.

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.

Helping Youth with School Avoidance & Anxiety

This parent training covers the importance of school attendance, youth mental health facts and how to help kids cope with school & anxiety.

Organization: Behavioral Health Training Collaborative
Audience: Educators, parents, and caregivers (K-12)
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here to register. Upon registering, participants receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting for this workshop.

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.

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, February 11 and Thursday, February 27, 5-7 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to RSVP.  Click here for more information. 

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.

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
Date: Friday, February 14, 1-3:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to register. Upon registering, participants receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting for this workshop.

High-Quality ECE Practices in Low-Resource Settings: Lessons for All

In this webinar, participants will:

  • Re-examine long-held assumptions about the relationship between “resources” and “quality ratings.”
  • Introduce practical and theoretical approaches that help us identify and describe high-quality practices in low-resource settings.
  • Explore what lessons one can re-apply to understand quality everywhere, support early childhood professions, and envision policies that appreciate people more than “stuff.”

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, February 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.

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. 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
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.

March

Expanding Your Preschool Program: New Locations, New Opportunities

Gain practical knowledge to evaluate readiness for growth, develop a strategic plan, and navigate the operational challenges of expanding to new sites. Discover next steps in making expansion goals a reality by:

  • Learning to evaluate a program’s operational and financial readiness to ensure a successful transition to multiple locations.
  • Developing a clear, actionable plan that aligns with a program’s mission and identifies high-potential locations.
  • Understanding budgeting and funding options to manage the costs of growth while maintaining profitability and cash flow.
  • Exploring marketing techniques to attract new families, build community presence, and strengthen brand reputation as they expand.

Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, March 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.   

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

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.

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. 

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.