Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church, 1068 Chestnut Level Road, Quarryville, will host a free parenting workshop on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The event will include talks from author and parenting coach Amy McCready, light refreshments and free childcare from the church's youth group.

McCready is the founder of Positive Parenting Solutions, a company that provides online education and parenting tools for parents with children of any age. Over 20 years ago, McCready began researching parenting studies from a variety of psychologists after encountering her own struggles with parenting two young boys. McCready applied her knowledge in education and training to create a curriculum for parents, which she taught in places such as churches, gyms, community centers, schools and businesses. In 2009, the curriculum was converted into an online course on the Positive Parenting Solutions website.

"(McCready) has a wealth of knowledge that we are thankful to be able to tap into," said church member Bobbie Dull. During the workshop, there will be a question-and-answer time when attendees can ask McCready specific questions relating to the discussion.

This is the first year that Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church will host a parenting workshop, which will serve as an extension of the parenting group started in October by Dull. The group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. while children are in preschool, and while the group was initially directed toward parents of young children, parents with children of any age may attend. The goal of the group is to provide parents and caregivers with an outlet to connect to others in a similar season of life who are navigating the same challenges. Parents and legal guardians in the group can discuss different parenting techniques and build relationships with other adults in the community.

"I was feeling led in this direction," said Dull, who is the parent of an 18-year-old, a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old. "It provides great perspective, and we can have discussions on a range of ages." The group will meet until May and take a break once schools' summer vacations arrive, but it will still meet once a month at a local playground so that group members and their children can stay connected.

Although the workshop and the child care provided will be free, Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church will accept donations to help fund its youth group's upcoming mission trip to New Orleans. The deadline to register for the workshop is Wednesday, Jan. 18. To register, call 717-548-2763 or email office@chestnutlevel.org.