Professional Development Trainings
and Community Workshops
Our team of child development experts cover a wide range of topics within social-emotional learning, early childhood mental health, speech and language development, sensory processing and integration, motor and physical development, and early childhood education. We are a licensed team of professionals, including early childhood mental health clinicians, pediatric occupational therapists, and pediatric speech and language pathologists, pediatric psychologists, and licensed educational psychologists.
We also take requests if you are interested in a specific topic.
Looking forward to working with you :) Click here to see flyers for these trainings.
Professional Development for Educators
Social-Emotional Learning & Behavior
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The Mind-Body Connection: This training covers Dr. Perry’s 4 Domains of Functioning: Sensory integration, self regulation, relational, & cognitive functioning. Plus, how to promote brain integration and build resilience in kids. Includes themes from a social-emotional learning and a sensory/motor perspective.
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Social-Emotional Learning 101: Here we delve into the meaning and components of SEL & how to support the development of SEL skills in preschool.1
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Social-Emotional Games and Activities: In this training, we review games and activities that support the development of essential SEL skills, the ‘why’, the ‘how’, and the ‘when’.
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Building Resilience: How do children become resilient? How can preschool environments promote resilience building? Let’s discuss how.
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Responding to Challenging Behaviors, Part 1: Get clear, practical tools for what to say and do in the hardest classroom moments. Learn how to de-escalate, set boundaries, and support regulation in ways that actually work for young children.
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Beyond Behavior, Part 2: Look beneath behavior to understand what children are communicating through a nervous system and systems lens. Explore how adult regulation, environment, and beliefs shape behavior and relationships
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The Zones of Regulation: This trainings serves as an introduction to The Zones of Regulation framework, how to use this model in the classroom, and provides concrete tools and strategies.
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Social Dynamics, Friendships, and Inclusion for children age 2–6: In this workshop we’ll explore how friendship, inclusion, and social problem-solving evolve and what teachers and parents can do to support healthy, inclusive skills at each stage of development.
Relationships, Attachment & Interaction
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Applying Circle of Security in Preschool Environments: Discover how the Circle of Security principles can enhance preschool classroom dynamics by fostering secure, supportive & nurturing teacher-child relationships.
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Reflecting on Circle of Security in Preschool Environments: This training is a follow up to Applying CoS in Preschool Environments, it include more space for application and reflection on the principles.
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Communicating, Interacting, and Connecting with Little Ones in Early Childhood Education: Here we cover how the ways we interact with children support the development of essential SEL skills.
Sensory, Regulation & the Body
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Sensory Development 101: Covers the 8 sensory systems, how to identify & support children with differences.
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Meeting Sensory Needs Throughout the Day: Learn practical ways to support diverse sensory needs during daily transitions and activities, creating a more responsive and successful classroom experience.
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An Optimal Sensory Environment: Designing your physical space, the daily flow, and your curriculum to meet the sensory and motor needs of all children.
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The Mind-Body Connection: This training covers Dr. Perry’s 4 Domains of Functioning: Sensory integration, self regulation, relational, & cognitive functioning. Plus, how to promote brain integration and build resilience in kids. Includes themes from a social-emotional learning and a sensory/motor perspective.
Communication & Language Development
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Pragmatic Communication: Teaching children the social aspects of communication.
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Understanding & Supporting Early Communication Development (0–5): Here we cover how to use and implement language stimulation strategies based on language milestones, and how to support children with delays.
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Understanding Speech Sound Patters & Intelligibility in the Preschool Classroom: In this training we will cover how speech sounds develop in children, all about those common "mistakes", how much should we be able to understand and at what age, what are the red flags and when to refer, and what are some simple things to add to your toolkit that you can do every day in your classroom.
Classroom Environment, Inclusion & Reggio
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Creating Inclusive Environments in Preschool: Learn ways to modify the physical environment, activities, and interpersonal interactions to allow all children, including neurodivergent, to thrive. Includes themes from a speech-language and a sensory/motor perspective.
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From Inspiration to Practice: A Reggio-Inspired Series for Educators: A Reggio-Inspired Series for Educators: This multi-part series supports educators in moving beyond Reggio inspiration into meaningful classroom practice. Through reflection, real examples, and practical tools, participants explore documentation, environment, materials, and the role of the adult in creating responsive, child-led, and relationship-based learning environments.
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Session 1: The Foundation. Reggio Inspired… Now What!?
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Session 2: Making Learning Visible. Documentation as Relationship and Reflection.
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Session 3: Environment as the Third Teacher. Designing Spaces, Provocations, and Materials for Meaningful Learning.
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Session 4: The Role of the Adult as Researcher. Becoming a Reggio-Inspired Educator.
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Educator Well-Being & Professional Practice
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Understanding Burnout and Cultivating Resilience for Early Childhood Educators: This session helps early childhood educators recognize burnout, understand and complete the stress cycle, build personal and collective resilience, and leave with practical tools for ongoing wellness.
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Staying Connected Through Hard Conversations in ECE: This training focuses on how to navigate important conversations that arise within relationships in early childhood education, with practical guidance for common situations such as parent-teacher conferences, developmental concerns, team tension, and communication with leadership.
Professional Development for Preschool Directors, Supervising Staff and Leadership
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Creating a Preschool Where Teachers and Families Feel They Belong: This interactive professional development workshop supports administrators in creating welcoming, inclusive, and relationship-centered preschool communities where teachers and families feel a strong sense of belonging. Participants will explore how daily interactions, communication practices, policies, and program culture shape trust, engagement, staff well-being, and family partnerships. Through reflection, discussion, and practical strategies, participants will leave with actionable tools to strengthen belonging, inclusion, and connection across their school community.
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From Tension to Trust: Strengthening Staff & Family Relationships: This professional development workshop helps early childhood educators and leaders strengthen family partnerships and navigate difficult conversations with confidence, empathy, and professionalism. Participants will explore practical strategies for building trust, improving communication, honoring diverse perspectives, and turning challenging interactions into opportunities for collaboration. Attendees will leave with tools and conversation frameworks they can use right away to support stronger family-staff relationships.
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Small Changes, Big Impact: Daily Practices That Transform Center Culture: This professional development workshop helps early childhood leaders understand how small, everyday actions shape a positive center culture. Participants will explore practical strategies for strengthening communication, relationships, staff morale, family engagement, and a shared sense of belonging. Through reflection and action planning, leaders will leave with manageable tools they can use right away to create a more supportive and connected program environment.
Community Workshops (for parents and caregivers)
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Boundaries and Building Resilience… at home: In this workshop we will explore how children become resilient, discuss boundaries and setting limits, and the meaning of consequences vs. punishment vs. discipline.
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Why Is Everything a Battle!?: Big feelings, screens, power struggles, and aggression are showing up more than ever—and it can feel overwhelming. This workshop helps parents understand what’s driving these moments and gives them simple, in-the-moment tools to respond with more calm, confidence, and connection.
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The Mind-Body Connection: This training covers Dr. Perry’s 4 Domains of Functioning: Sensory integration, self regulation, relational, & cognitive functioning. Plus, how to promote brain integration and build resilience in kids. Includes themes from a social-emotional learning and a sensory/motor perspective.
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From First Foods to Family Meals: Navigating Early Feeding and Troubleshooting with an Occupational Therapist: Navigating Early Feeding and Troubleshooting with an Occupational Therapist This training covers all things related to feeding and eating.
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Transitioning to Preschool: We'll explore ways to set children up for success as they start preschool for the first time, or return after a summer break.
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Social Dynamics, Friendships, and Inclusion for children age 2–6: In this workshop we’ll explore how friendship, inclusion, and social problem-solving evolve and what teachers and parents can do to support healthy, inclusive skills at each stage of development.
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Raising Brave Kids in an Anxious World Raising Brave Kids in an Anxious World is a practical, connection-based workshop that helps parents support children through fear and anxiety. Learn what’s driving anxious behaviors, how to respond in the moment, and how to help children build confidence and resilience—even on hard days.
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Hand in Hand Parenting: Coming soon!!
SPECIALIZED SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
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Chronic Illness and Child/Family Development – Part 1: In this workshop, we will explore what chronic illness is, it's impact on individual and family development, and how treatments can effect social emotional behavior and development.
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Chronic Illness and Child/Family Development – Part 2: In this workshop, we will explore and discuss interventions and approaches to coping and building resilience in the setting of a family member with a chronic health condition and how the school team can be an integral part of the family's coping.
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Education Across the Chronic Illness Journey: In this workshop, we will explore and discuss the potential impact of diagnosis and treatment on learning for the child. Participants will also be provided interventions and accommodations available to set the child and family up for success in the learning environment.
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Intervention in Grief, Death, and Dying: In this workshop we will explore and discuss the concept of grief as a process of loss not only present when someone dies but also as part of living with a life limiting health condition. In addition, we will discuss and explore how to be present for children and families as they navigate this journey. Last, we will discuss self-care opportunities.
All of SDC's PDs qualify as Professional Growth activities for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Ask your Professional Growth Advisor!
