Conciencia de la Salud Mental en la Primera Infancia
2025-04-02 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Virtual
La salud mental ha sido de suma importancia en la educación de la primera infancia, especialmente porque el aprendizaje en persona nos unió a todos después de la pandemia. Los niños pequeños no son una excepción a la hora de sentir la agitación emocional y mental del aislamiento, el distanciamiento social y una dinámica de vida familiar cambiada. Entonces, te preguntarás ¿cuál es tu rol como docente? Puedes ser un verdadero faro… inspirando, empoderando y motivando a las mentes jóvenes. En otras palabras, ustedes son la primera línea de defensa como maestros. Este entrenamiento ofrecerá algunos consejos y orientación para identificar las posibles señales de problemas de salud mental en niños pequeños para ayudarlos a navegar una de las tendencias actuales más complicadas en la educación de la primera infancia.
Register Here

Denver Director Equity and Advocacy Professional Learning Community
2025-04-03 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-01 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Meet with other directors, teachers, and staff from our team in a monthly informal setting to discuss the current needs in the field. Be an advocate for your program while helping others by simply speaking up about what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s needed.
This is a Director’s PLC and can be used as credit toward the Director DPP Achievement Award.
Questions? Contact Dora Esparza at dora@denverearlychildhood.org.
REGISTER HERE

Performance Management - Part 2
2025-04-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Part 2 of the 3-part series on performance management will cover various aspects of staff performance and elements to include, types of performance instruments, goal setting, quality feedback, and linking performance to remuneration in an equitable manner.
RegISTER HERE

Denver CCAP Collaborative
2025-04-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
Formerly called the Denver Child Care Task Force, the Denver CCAP Collaborative was founded to give Denver child care providers a voice in the community and an opportunity to meet and connect with Denver Human Services Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) staff.
The Collaborative discusses policy and funding issues that affect large and small child care programs in the Denver metro area. The group meets regularly and includes participants from child care centers, community funders, and representatives from Denver Human Services.
Topics at CCAP Collaborative meetings can include, but are not limited to:
CCAP Program and Policy Changes
Community Funding Updates
Discussion of Welfare Reform Board Agenda
TANF updates
REGISTER HERE

Social Emotional - Behavior is Communication
2025-04-11 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
The workshop provides practical strategies for interpreting and responding to behaviors, helping children manage and express their emotions in healthy ways. Through role-play scenarios and real-life examples, participants learn how to guide young children through emotional experiences in ways that promote emotional intelligence, secure attachment, and a strong foundation for social and emotional growth.
RegISTER HERE

Performance Management - Part 3
2025-04-16 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Part 3 of 3 in this series on performance management will explore performance improvement plans, difficult conversations, staff development, “stay” conversations, off-boarding, and termination.
RegISTER HERE

Mentes en Crecimiento: Serie de Primavera para Profesionales de la Primera Infancia (Serie Destacada DPP)
2025-04-16 18:00 - 21:00 | Virtual
Esta es una serie virtual de 3 partes:

Sesión 1: Miércoles 16 de Abril de 6:00-9:00pm
Sesión 2: Miércoles 23 de Abril de 6:00-9:00pm
Sesión 3: Miércoles 30 de Abril de 6:00-9:00pm

Únete a nosotros esta primavera para la serie “Mentes en Crecimiento”, diseñada específicamente para profesionales de la primera infancia comprometidas/os con el bienestar de los niños pequeños. Basada en la Ciencia de la Esperanza, esta serie explorará cómo cultivar la resiliencia, la autocompasión y la mentalidad de crecimiento tanto en educadores como en niños. Cada sesión ofrecerá estrategias prácticas para fomentar la salud emocional y física, poniendo énfasis en el poder transformador de la gratitud, la esperanza y la admiración. Unámonos para crear ambientes compasivos, esperanzadores y equilibrados donde cada niño pueda prosperar.
Los/las participantes podran ser elegibles para aplicar a los Premios al Logro DPP, con un total de $325
Regístrese Aquí

Managing Challenging Employees
2025-04-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Challenging and toxic behavior from staff have a negative impact on all parts of an early childhood organization, from interactions with children, families, and co-workers, to other aspects of the organization’s business. Early childhood programs are already faced with challenges in an industry that has critical financial and workforce issues. Add cultural toxicity to the mix, and it can negatively impact otherwise quality programming for children and families. It is essential for administrators to deal with any internal challenges that staff may present, know how to apply strategies to rehabilitate noxious behavior from staff, and know how and when to appropriately sever ties when there is failure in cooperation.
REGISTER HERE

Spanish for ECE: Steps to Incorporate Spanish into your English Classroom (DPP Featured Series)
2025-04-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual
This is a free 3-part series:

Session 1: Wednesday April 23 from 6:30-8:30pm
Session 2: Wednesday April 30 from 6:30-8:30pm
Session 3: Wednesday May 7 from 6:30-8:30pm

How do you begin to teach a language you don’t speak? How can you make sure that your young students do not “miss out” on early learning opportunities? And once you are able to understand how to go about it, how can you make your lessons engaging, interactive, & fun yet meaningful? Denise Leitch of Lingua Garden will discuss the benefits of language learning at an early age and demonstrate how you can add foreign language to your curriculum. With more than a decade of experience as an early childhood teacher, and language business owner, she will share with you easy ways to add language learning into your daily routine.

Attendees might be eligible to apply for the DPP Teacher Achievement Awards totaling $325

RegISTER HERE

Managing Challenging Behaviors Through a Power Lens
2025-04-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual
This session provides an introduction to the concept of power and its role in every relationship we engage in, particularly in the context of early childhood education. Once these foundational concepts are established, we will explore challenging behaviors in children through the lens of power dynamics. Children often express their needs and emotions through their behavior, and one fundamental need is the desire for autonomy and the ability to assert their personal power. By understanding these dynamics, educators can develop more effective strategies to support children in expressing themselves appropriately while fostering a sense of agency and self-esteem.
Register Here

Spring Social - A Change in Plans
2025-04-24
We are pressing ‘pause’ on our Spring Social.
Why Now?
Classrooms are facing unprecedented challenges, and we are mobilizing resources to provide stability and support where it’s needed most. By shifting our efforts from event planning to direct action, we can better serve early childhood educators and the children in their care.
Our Goal: $45,000 in Three Months
With your generosity, we can provide critical resources that strengthen early childhood education in our community. Learn more about our initiatives here.
Make a Difference Today
Donate in lieu of attending a celebration—your contribution directly supports educators and ensures local stability in uncertain times.
Donate here
🔹Suggested donations: $25 | $50 | $100 | $250 – one time, monthly, or yearly recurring🔹
Together, we can make a lasting impact. Thank you for standing with us in support of early childhood educators.
All donations are eligible for the Colorado child care contribution tax credit.

Classroom Management in ECE
2025-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
Managing a classroom does not just involve decorating a classroom, but creating an inclusive learning environment. Many educators struggle with designing a classroom because they need to develop the skill of understanding the impact of diverse learners. Not all students will thrive in the same learning environment, which means educators will need to provide classroom adaptations to better serve all of their students. Participants will leave this workshop with a blueprint of how to better design a learning environment for all students.
Register Here

Hablemos de Sexo y Sexualidad (Serie Destacada DPP) - EN PERSONA
2025-04-26 09:00 - 15:45 | Goddard Highlands, 3914 King St, Denver, CO, 80211, United States
Esta capacitación será en persona
*Desayuno ligero, almuerzo, y refrigerios se proporcionarán a los/las participantes*
En esta capacitacion en persona, aprenderás a cómo hablar de sexo y sexualidad con los niños y niñas a tu cargo. También explorarás maneras de comunicarte con los padres y madres de familia. La serie se divide en tres partes: a) cómo entiendes y percibes los temas de sexo y sexualidad de manera personal, b) cómo adaptar pláticas de sexo y sexualidad para niños y niñas de no más de 5 años, y c) cómo hablar del tema con los padres y las madres de familia.
Los/las participantes podran ser elegibles para aplicar a los Premios al Logro DPP, con un total de $325
Regístrese Aquí

Building Blocks of Communication
2025-04-29 13:30 - 14:30 | Virtual
We will begin by reviewing definitions of expressive/ receptive language, what verbal and nonverbal communication looks like, and language development research. Throughout the course, we will discuss strategies to support language development in early childhood, and in contrast, common adult behaviors that are not conducive to language learning and their effects on children’s communication. We will review strategies that can be helpful during group classroom activities and those that teachers can implement when interacting one-one with children. Teachers will have the opportunity to come up with functional target words that will support expressive and receptive language development across daily classroom routines.

Register Here

Feedback and Challenging Conversations
2025-04-30 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Poor communication is one of the core leadership functions that is cited as the primary cause of ineffective leadership. This session will provide an overview of effective communication attributes and strategies, with an emphasis on feedback and challenging conversations.
REGISTER HERE

Lunch Bunch: All About 529 Higher Education Savings Plans
2025-05-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
Grab your lunch and your laptop and join us and guest speaker Ben Samuels, Community Outreach Coordinator at College Invest (a Colorado Department of Higher Education program). We’ll learn about the state-sponsored 529 higher education savings plans and matching grant programs that are available to newborns through 8-year-olds that offer up to $2500 in funds. These are generous programs aimed at incentivizing parents to start saving for their children’s future higher education as early as possible. Parents and early education program staff are all welcome to attend. Bring your questions!
REGISTER HERE

Denver CCAP Collaborative
2025-05-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual
May meeting canceled. We will resume on June 26. Register here.

Independence Day
2025-07-04
Office closed

Educator Appreciation Day
2025-07-27 12:00 - 17:00
The dedication and contributions of Early Childhood Educators do not go unnoticed. Denver’s Early Childhood Council is proud to host our first ever invite-only Educator Appreciation Day Event in July 2025. This small event provides an opportunity for Denver area educators and their families to be recognizing for their exemplary work in front of their peers.
Thanks to our sponsor Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.

8/13/25 12:00PM – 1:30PM | Performance Management Part 1 – DPP Featured Director Series | English
2025-08-13 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
This is Part 1 of the virtual Performance Management Bootcamp Denver Preschool Program (DPP) Director Featured Series. To receive a certificate of completion, you must register to and attend all 3 sessions. This session will highlight the importance of performance management for childcare and preschools, showing how it supports business success, stability, and quality. We will cover recruitment, onboarding, and 1-on-1 meetings, and start an introduction to quality staff performance. Participants will receive a certificate of completion with the following competency: Early Childhood Center Planning and Leadership (ECCPL).
This training is free for Denver providers, and $30 for providers outside of Denver.

Register Here

Accommodating Students & Hands on Universal Design Learning (UDL) - Session 2 | DPP Featured Series
2025-08-14 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
This is part 2 of a 3-part Denver Preschool Program (DPP) Teacher Featured Series. We all learn differently, but not everyone gets the support they need. This interactive workshop explores how to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to your classroom, lesson plans, and activities. Bring your own materials to learn how to adapt them using UDL strategies. Participants will receive a certificate of completion with the following credit category : Teaching Practice (TP)
Register here

8/14/25 1:30PM - 3:00PM | Building Blocks of Communication | English
2025-08-14 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual
In this session, participants will explore expressive and receptive language, verbal and nonverbal communication, and key language development research. Strategies to support language growth—both in groups and one-on-one—will be shared, along with common adult behaviors that may hinder development. Teachers will also identify functional target words to use in daily routines. Participants will receive a certificate in Child Growth, Development, and Learning (CGDL).

Register Here

Basic Licensing Overview Training | English
2025-08-19 12:30 - 14:00 | Virtual
This training provides an overview of general licensing rules and regulations as they apply to the classroom environment, supervision, and the most commonly overlooked infractions. This training is great for directors, admins, and all ECE staff to attend before the school year begins. Participants will receive a certificate of completion with the following competency: Early Childhood Center Planning and Leadership (ECCPL).

Register Here

EQIT (Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care) | English
2025-08-19 18:00 - 21:00 | Virtual
This is a 16-part virtual training in English. Modules will happen every Tuesday from 6:00-9:00pm, with the final module taking place on 12/16/2025. This course builds the skills of infant and toddler care professionals, promotes higher quality care, supports community collaboration, and fosters professional development for educators and coaches. Participants must make sure to first request the course on your PDIS (Professional Development Information Systems) account.

Register Here

EQIT (Expanding Quality in Infant Toddler Care) | Dari
2025-08-19 18:00 - 21:00 | Virtual
This is a 16-part hybrid training in Dari (a variety of the Persian language). Each module will happen on Tuesday virtually (6:00pm – 9:00pm) and some Saturdays in person (9:00am – 12:00pm), with the final module taking place on 11/18/25. This course builds the skills of infant and toddler care professionals, promotes higher quality care, supports community collaboration, and fosters professional development for educators and coaches. Participants must make sure to first request the course on your PDIS (Professional Development Information Systems) account.

Register Here

Performance Management Part 2 - DPP Featured Director Series | English
2025-08-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual
This is Part 2 of the virtual Performance Management Bootcamp Denver Preschool Program (DPP) Director Featured Series. To receive a certificate of completion, you must register to and attend all 3 sessions. This session will cover various aspects of staff performance and elements to include, types of performance instruments, goal setting, quality feedback, and linking performance to remuneration in an equitable manner. Participants will receive a certificate of completion with the following competency: Early Childhood Center Planning and Leadership (ECCPL) .
Registration link in Part 1.

Director Excellence and Compliance | English
2025-08-20 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual
Come learn essential strategies to navigate business operations, inspection preparation, and rigorous performance standards. Enhance program compliance, financial oversight, and continuous improvement. Participants will receive a certificate of completion with the following credit category : Professional Practice (PP)
This training is free for Denver providers, and $30 for providers outside of Denver.

Register Here
