AUGUST CALENDAR
Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)
A variety of online classes are available in August for families.
Organization: Saddleback College FKCE
Audience: Parents with children ages 0-17
Location: Virtual via Zoom/In Person
Dates: Click here (Open in new window)(aqui para español (Open in new window)) 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 (Open in new window) or for more information.
Infants, Toddlers & Twos, Oh My! by Tracy Patton, M.S.
Shine a light on the magic, importance, and unique needs of infants, toddlers, and twos. Too often, early childhood training focuses on preschool-aged children, leaving educators of children ages 0–2 without the tools and preparation they need to feel fully confident in their practice. That gap can make it harder to choose activities, respond to developmental needs, and build classroom experiences that are truly appropriate for the youngest learners.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Dates: Wednesday, August 5, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window) 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.
Helping Kids Show Up: A Guide to Reducing School Absenteeism
During this free webinar, we'll discuss the emotional and practical factors that can make school attendance difficult and share strategies trusted adults can use to help children build confidence and reconnect with school.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigates
Audience: Early childhood educator and professionals
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Date: Thursday, August 6, 12-12:45 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window) to view the flyer. Click here (Open in new window) to register. For questions, please contact BrightLife at 888-275-5357 or email at ce@hellobrightline.com (Open in new window)
AELL Wednesday Webinar: Managing and Engaging Reluctant Staff
Keeping staff motivated and engaged is a challenge for any manager, and especially in early education programs where it's always 'Go, Go, Go!'. So, what can you do when your staff loses its spunk? Join us for an hour and learn how to re-engage reluctant, challenging or burnt-out staff with great ideas that put the fun back into being a manager!
Organization: Early Learning Leaders
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, August 12 from 10-11 a.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window) to register. If you are unable to join us live, you will receive an email with the webinar recording the day after the live webinar.
Word Wonders: Exploring Early Literacy Instruction through a Science of Reading Lens
"Research based curricula" doesn't equal boring! Discover how to make FUN the #1 priority when designing early language/literacy activities for young children. Using the science of reading as the foundation, we'll explore what skills children are working on from 18-48 months and spotlight ways to develop playful learning experiences that nurture language/literacy mastery!
Organization: Zero to Three
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window)to register. For questions, please contact Zero to Three at 202-638-1144
When to Say When: Building Confidence in Supporting Neurodivergent and Developing Minds by Michele Hemenway Pullen
In this insightful session, Michele Hemenway Pullen, Project Specialist at the University of Louisville Early Childhood Research Center, will guide you through a simple, step-by-step approach to help you regain your confidence and know “what to say when,” as well as which next steps are best to take. Originally designed for early childhood college students who were experiencing new levels of frustration, Michele’s “When to Say When” checklist has, over the past fifteen years, become a trusted framework for educators seeking composure, clarity, and confidence—especially when working with children whose behaviors are complex or whose neurodivergent traits may be misunderstood.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Dates: Wednesday, August 12, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window) 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 the Mess—A Structured Approach to Process Art: Four Core Activities That Spark Creativity, Exploration, and Intentional Learning by Faigie Kobre
In this practical and inspiring session, Faigie Kobre, early childhood educator, former preschool director, and creator of the Beyond Copycat Crafts framework, invites educators to rethink how they approach process art in the classroom. Many educators feel pressure to constantly introduce new and exciting art activities to keep children engaged. Yet four core process art activities can be expanded, adapted, and revisited in countless ways— enough to sustain an entire year of creative exploration. In this webinar, Faigie will walk participants step-by-step through these four essential activities and demonstrate how they can be used repeatedly with fresh purpose and intention.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Dates: Thursday, August 13, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window) 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 Development Screening
Family Support Network provides free developmental screenings for children 0-5 years of age. The screening addresses a child's cognitive, developmental, physical, and social progress. This is a one-on-one collaboration between therapists and caregivers to screen the child in the following areas:
- Speech and Language
- Behavior & Emotional
- Fine & Gross Motor
- Health
- Dental
- Vision
- Hearing
Organization: Family Support Network and the City of Irvine
Audience: Orange County families with a child 0-5 years old
Location: Quail Hill Community Center
39 Shady Canyon Drive, Irvine, CA 92603
Date: Friday, April 14, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free - *Pre-Registration required
Information: To view the flyer, click here. To register, please click here (Open in new window). For questions, please contact Katya Aguilar at 714-447-301 Ext. 205 or by email at kaguilar@fsn-oc.org (Open in new window).
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 with children ages 0-5 years old
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Date: Mondays, August 17, 24,31, September 14 and 21, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
*Please click on date above to view the 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 having children 6-12 years old
Location: Virtual via Zoom/In Person
Date: Tuesdays, August 18, 25, September 1, 8, 15, and 22, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (Spanish via Zoom) (Open in new window) Wednesdays, August 26, September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (in-person) *Please click on date above to view flyer
Fee: Free
Information: Pre-registration required. Click here to view flier and registration information or call 714-361-4381.
It's All About the Brain! How to Use Music-Making to Unlock Baby's Brain for Reading by Ann C. Kay, M.A.
Current neuroscience reveals a remarkable truth: the way young brains process sound builds the foundation for language and literacy, and music-making actively strengthens that foundation. Join Ann C. Kay, M.A., Co-founder of Rock ’n’ Read Project, for a fun, engaging session where you’ll sing (on mute!), explore the science of early brain development, and learn how to use music-making to help babies and toddlers build essential pre-reading skills. No prior music training is required.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Dates: Wednesday, August 19, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window) 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.
How to talk to infants and toddlers while they play: language that fosters connection, confidence, and creativity by Cara Tyrrell, M.Ed.
Explore how intentional language during play helps infants and toddlers build meaning, connection, confidence, and a lasting love of learning. Grounded in play-based neuroscience, this workshop examines the powerful relationship between adult expressive language and the ways young children process, understand, and respond to the world around them.
Organization: Early Childhood Investigations
Audience: Early childhood educators and professionals
Location: Virtual
Dates: Wednesday, August 26, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Fee: Free
Information: Click here (Open in new window) 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.
