Trying Together

Parenting While Black: A Family-to-Family Real Talk Series
2026-02-02 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-09 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-23 15:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-02 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Brazelton Touchpoints Center will celebrate Black History Month with a free, four-part virtual conversation series by, for, and among Black parents.
This year, the focus will be on Raising Black Children in the Digital Age: Culture, Technology, and Liberation.
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Through a lens that centers on Black children’s experiences and futures, the series will look at how parents, educators, and communities navigate the challenges and opportunities of our increasingly digital world while affirming Black children’s humanity, agency, and cultural heritage.
The conversations, which each run an hour, will be held on the following Mondays – February 2, 9, and 23, and March 2 at 3 p.m. ET.
The series is designed to create an authentic and welcoming space for Black parents to share experiences and insights and build community. The webinars are moderated by Kimya Barden, PhD, a parenting scholar, co-creator of The Speaker Shop, and professor of Urban Community Studies at Northeastern Illinois University-Chicago
Each webinar includes live Spanish-language translation and captioning. Those interested in attending the webinars can sign up online.

Story Time at the Hub
2026-02-03 10:30 - 11:15, 2026-02-10 10:30 - 11:15, 2026-02-17 10:30 - 11:15, 2026-02-24 10:30 - 11:15
Story time at the Hub! is an interactive story time geared toward children birth to five years of age and their families!
Story time runs from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays.

Tummy Time
2026-02-04 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-02-11 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-02-18 10:00 - 10:45, 2026-02-25 10:00 - 10:45
Tummy Time provides caregivers and pre-walking infants an opportunity to socialize in a safe and welcoming setting.
Tummy Time runs from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Wednesdays at the Homewood Early Learning Hub and Family Center.

Drop-In Playtime
2026-02-04 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-11 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-18 11:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-25 11:00 - 13:00
Drop-in play hours offer a fun and safe space for children to grow, learn, and play while building social skills. Caregivers must stay with their children. The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center staff are available for support.
Drop-in Playtime runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays.

FLIP IT: Transforming “Challenging” Behavior in Young Children
2026-02-05 18:30 - 20:30
FLIP IT® is a strategy that offers a simple, kind, strength-based, commonsense, and effective four step process to address children’s day to day challenging behaviors.
The four steps are embodied in the FLIP IT mnemonic which stands for F – Feelings, L – Limits, I – Inquiries, and P – Prompts. FLIP IT is nothing new, but transforms best practice into a strategy that is easy to remember, applicable in a variety of challenging situations, and portable.
FLIP IT is most appropriate for children 3-8 years old.
More information:

When: Thursday, February 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: ZOOM
Cost: $20
Register

Hot Chocolate Walk in Indiana
2026-02-07 10:00 - 11:30
The 10th Annual Indiana County Decathlon series will kick off with the Hot Chocolate Walk on Saturday, February 7.
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The event will begin at 10 a.m. at Blue Spruce Park’s Pavilion 1, located at 1128 Blue Spruce Road in Indiana. Participants can choose between taking a winter walk led by Barb Haute or hand-feeding chickadees with Ray Winstead.
Attendees will be able to warm up with a complimentary cup of hot chocolate. The event will be an easy walk on a paved area and/or a moderate walk on trails. Those interested in taking part should dress appropriately for winter weather.

Sensory Friendly Hours at Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
2026-02-08 10:00 - 13:00
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum will offer sensory friendly hours for children on days in February, March, and April.
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The museum, located at 1 Electric Way in Washington, will offer the sensory friendly hours for young visitors on February 8, March 15, April 2, and April 26 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The cost of admission is $20 for adults, $19 for seniors, $15 for children between the ages of 3 and 18, and free for visitors under 2 years of age.
Visitors will be able to explore the museum in a sensory-modified setting with quieter streetcars, lowered exhibit sounds, and soft lighting.

Supervision 101
2026-02-09 18:30 - 19:30
This session will give a foundational overview of supervision in licensed early childhood programs. Learning objectives will focus on the DHS Certification Regulations for child care in Pennsylvania.
Participants will be able to define supervision per the regulations. This session will also focus on ratio and discuss various scenarios for practical application.
This course is appropriate for both new early childhood professionals and those who might need a refresher on the vital importance of supervision.
More information

When: Monday, February 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: ZOOM
Cost: $10
Register

Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy Webinars
2026-02-11 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-25 13:00 - 14:00
Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development.
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The webinars will provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:

January 14: Communication and the Growing Brain

January 28: The Vocabulary of Emotions

February 11: Embedding Language and Literacy Throughout the Day

February 25: Getting Creative with Writing Development

Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.

UnConference: Kindergarten Transition
2026-02-16 08:00 - 14:30
Trying Together will host an UnConference focused on kindergarten transition on Monday, February 16 at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
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Trying Together’s UnConference is an innovative, hands-on professional development training format where a deeper experience is provided around a particular theme related to early childhood education. Speakers are invited to present and participants are encouraged to engage hands-on in the workshops.
Registration for the UnConference is now open.
Details

Monday, February 16, 2026
8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Allegheny Intermediate Unit (475 E Waterfront Dr, Homestead, PA 15120)
$25 (Registration is required)

Free parking will be available in the AIU parking lot, and overflow parking is available across the street.
A light breakfast with coffee and tea will be available and lunch will be provided as a part of the registration fee.
The UnConference will begin with a keynote presentation by Swati Adarkar (Former Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Policy and Early Learning, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Department of Education under the Biden administration), followed by an insightful panel of experts aimed at supporting and improving on-time Kindergarten registration and Kindergarten readiness. Participants will attend two sessions led by local and national early childhood organizations- one in the morning and one after lunch. The day will end by 2:30 p.m.
PQAS and Act 48 credit hours will be available.
For more information on workshops, check out the event’s flyer.

Educator Night with Reading Ready Pittsburgh
2026-02-18 16:00 - 18:00
Reading Ready Pittsburgh will host a special night for educators at B is for Books on Wednesday, February 18.
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The event, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., will include a light dinner and desserts, raffles, teacher resources, and books.

Rebecca Chrystal, of Raising a Reader National, will deliver a presentation titled “Stories that Spark! Engaging Families through Diverse Books.”

Those interested in attending should RSVP by using the QR code on the flyer. Attendees can invite any educators of young children, and the event’s focus will be nursery school through second grade.

Growing Together | Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Caregivers
2026-02-18 18:30 - 19:30
Join Trying Together virtually every third Wednesday of the month for professional development focused on frequently requested topics relevant to early childhood educators. The topic for February is Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships with Caregivers

Participants can choose to attend any or all of the mini-sessions and registration is highly recommended. However, participants can access any session using the Zoom link.
Click here to register

Professional development sessions in the series include:

March 18, 2026: Utilizing Your ELRC Quality Coach: What is Their Role and How Can They Support You?
April 15, 2026 Aligning Curriculum With Daily Practice
May 20, 2026: The ELPES (Early Learning Program Engagement Specialists) Team: Who Are They and How Can They Support Providers?
June 17, 2026 Child Development: Expectations vs. Reality
July 15, 2026 Navigating Public Policy and Systems

Each session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month.

Carved In Ice
2026-02-20 17:00 - 20:00
The annual Carved In Ice event will take place in Diamond Park and Main Street in Butler on Friday, February 20.
Learn More
During the event, which is free to the public, DiMartino Ice will carve ice creations for spectators. Local businesses will sponsor the sculpture designs.
The event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Introduction to ASQ-3
2026-02-23 09:00 - 12:00
Participants will learn how to use the ASQ-3 as a screening tool for children ages 3 months to 5 years.
The session provides information on why a developmental screening tool is administered in early childhood programs, how to administer and score the screener, strategies for sharing results with families of diverse backgrounds, and supporting resources for making referrals to additional services if needed.
More information:

Location: Trying Together Training Room, 5604 Solway St., Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: $30
Register

American Red Cross First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED Training
2026-02-24 17:00 - 20:00
Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 are partnering to provide in person and hybrid First Aid, Pediatric First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillator (AED) trainings to early childhood professionals.
About the Course
This PQAS-certified in-person course provides life-saving skills in alliance with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs.
Certification will be issued upon successful completion of the course. This certification is valid for two years.
The cost is $70.
PLEASE NOTE: Successful course completion requires full participation in classroom and skill sessions, as well as successful performance in skill and knowledge evaluations.
Participants will be conducting strenuous activities, such as performing CPR on the floor. If you have a medical condition or disability that will prevent you from taking part in the skills practice sessions, please let your instructor know so that accommodations can be made for the practice portion. The CPR and AED evaluations must be completed with the manikin on the ground.
Information for Hybrid Sessions
The online coursework for hybrid sessions must be completed prior to the in-person class. Access to the online coursework will be provided via email upon completion of registration. Allow yourself 3-4 hours to complete. We advise completing the online coursework at least 48 hours prior to your in-person course. You will need to provide proof of completion by providing a copy of your completion email either printed or on your mobile device of class in order to participate in the in-person class portion of the training.
Session Details

Tuesday, Feb. 24 | Hybrid | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Elizabeth Seton Center (Brookline), 1900 Pioneer Ave., Pittsburgh
Register
Cost: $70

Saturday, March 14 | Full Class | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Trying Together, 5604 Solway St., Pittsburgh
Register
Cost: $70

Saturday, May 16 | Full Class | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Elizabeth Seton Center (Brookline), 1900 Pioneer Ave., Pittsburgh
Register
Cost: $70

Monday, June 1 | Hybrid | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Pitt CEC-Homewood, 622 N. Homewood Ave., Pittsburgh
Register
Cost: $70

Questions?
For questions about the sessions, contact Amanda Murphy at amanda@tryingtogether.org.

Let’s Chat About Early Language and Literacy Webinars
2026-02-25 13:00 - 14:00
Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) will co-host a series of four webinars on language and literacy development.
Learn More
The webinars will provide resources to share with families and use in classrooms and centers. The free webinars will run from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the following dates:

January 14: Communication and the Growing Brain
January 28: The Vocabulary of Emotions
February 11: Embedding Language and Literacy Throughout the Day – registration coming soon
February 25: Getting Creative with Writing Development – registration coming soon

Attendees will be able to earn PQAS credit hours, Infant Toddler hours, and ACT48 hours.

Introduction to ASQ:SE-2
2026-02-27 13:00 - 15:00
*Attendees should have already taken ASQ-3 PD prior to this ASQ-SE2 training.
Participants will learn how to use the ASQ-SE-2® as a social-emotional developmental screening tool for children ages 3 months to 5 years.
Learn More
The session provides information on why a developmental screening tool is administered in early childhood programs, how to administer and score the screener, strategies for sharing results with families of diverse backgrounds, and resources to support making referrals to additional services as needed.
Upcoming sessions include:
Friday, Feb. 27 | 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Location: ZOOM
Cost: $20
Register

Wednesday, May 27 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: ZOOM
Cost: $20
Register
