in this issue...

 SpringHill News

 Conquering Conflict

 Book Reviews

 Keeping Kids Safe Online

 What Kids Are Saying

"In your anger do not sin"; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
—Ephesians 4:26-27

newsletters for kids

Did you know that SpringHill has three different newsletters for students? Is your child receiving one? If not, subscribe to one today!

Being a parent in the digital age is becoming more complicated all the time. MySpace, Xanga, Facebook...if you've never heard of these websites, you can be sure your teenager knows all about them. Studies estimate that 61% of 13 to 17 year olds use online social networking sites. In fact, in a recent survey of 482 SpringHill parents, more than half said that their children have screen names or profiles on these sites.

While there are potential dangers to being active in these online communities, there are also great relational and social benefits to our kids as well. As parents it's a struggle to come up with an Internet policy that allows the good and keeps out the bad. To help you and your family in this quest, we suggest reviewing the following web pages for more information and then talking to your kids about their online activity. Setting clear guidelines and keeping the lines of communication open will help head off issues and ease concerns as you and your children navigate this brave new world together.

Social Networking
Read a clear explanation of how social networking works, find out what social networking sites exist, learn how to check out your kids' blogs and discover common sense tips for keeping kids safe.

Online Safety on MySpace and Other Social Networking Sites
Find practical tips and guidelines for helping kids use social networking sites safely and read about the risks and benefits of allowing your kids to participate in these online communities.

Tips for Safe Internet Traveling
Consider thoughtful suggestions on ways to limit children to appropriate content on the Internet and encourage information literacy.

Keeping Kids Safe on Social Sites
Get answers to questions ranging from "Does material a child post to a blog or social network stay on the Internet forever? to "How can I make my kid's MySpace profile private?"

Does your family have a policy on social networking that you'd like to share with other SpringHill parents? Email us! We'd love to hear from you.

what kids are saying

· When asked whether their families volunteer or serve others during the holidays, 85% of junior high students and 75% of elementary students said yes; more than 60% of high school students said no.

· High school and junior high students rank "seeing someone's life improved or changed" as their highest expectation when serving.

what you said

· Over 50% of you surveyed say that your family volunteers or serves together several times a year. 15% serve more than once a month.

· The majority of you find your opportunities to serve through your church. A few create your own opportunities.

· The most common barriers to service include lack of time (43%) and lack of opportunities that fit your schedule (20%).

starting fresh for the new year

The Source has a whole new look this year. And so does the SpringHill website — please, go look around! The new website design makes it easier to find out what’s happening at your camp, as well as important news, like all the details on Summer 2007, and fun stuff, too, like our exciting online game. Just by playing, your kids could win big prizes! As for The Source, we'll still be bringing you all the latest SpringHill news as well as biblically based content, with practical tips and useful links and resources to help you raise great kids and build a strong family. So look around, click on stuff and let us know what you think of the new design!

what's happening at springhill indiana



Registration for SpringHill Summer 2007 is just days away! On January 22 at 6 p.m. registration opens for all camp centers. Go online now to view the complete summer schedule, to get more details about majors and housing in your child's camp center and to set up your online account. Sessions fill quickly so don't wait to register. Get started today!

Want to help SpringHill get ready for a summer that changes kids' lives and provides more fun than they can imagine? Bring your family to SpringHill for a volunteer day or weekend: Saturday, March 2;  Saturday, May 12; or Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 25 - Monday, May 28. It's a great opportunity to serve at SpringHill and have a fun time doing it! For more information, visit our website. Then, call Pam Wilkerson at 812-479-0008, ext. 102, to register. Don't wait — space is limited!

conquering the cycle of conflict

If your family is like most families — Christian and non-Christian — dealing with conflict is a regular part of each day. Sometime the conflict we experience happens outside the home, at work, while driving or with a friend. But most often, conflict crops up at home.

In the January issues of our student newsletters, The Hopper (for grades 1-5), Bounce (for grades 6-8) and The Well (for grades 9-12), the content focuses on handling conflict and forgiveness. Chances are, because of the way we (and our kids) deal with conflict, the resulting argument or stalemate or shouting match requires that forgiveness be extended, which is why the two often go hand in hand.

How is conflict handled in your home? In many, it goes something like this:

• Stage 1: Tension surfaces.
• Stage 2: The issue is identified. ("Jeff came home late last night." "Mom won't let me go to the party.")
• Stage 3: Fault is found on both sides. Focus comes off the issue and is transferred to the person. ("You are wrong.")
• Stage 4: Conflict explodes into a fight. (For some this might happen during the conflict, for others it might happen later with someone else.)
• Stage 5: A winner is determined. Because the issue has not been resolved or even clearly addressed, this stage can result in hurt feelings and anger.

If conflicts are not calmly and lovingly resolved at Stage 2, the Cycle of Conflict will often result, giving Satan a foothold in our relationships and making future communication and resolution difficult. If the conflicts in your family do escalate, forgiveness is the way to disarm anger and release us (and our kids) from past arguments. Forgiveness also allows us to deal with today and have a chance at resolving conflict with more love and patience and better listening the next time.

reading between the lines

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn
For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men by Shaunti Feldhahn
You love your spouse, but you just can't figure him (or her) out! Thanks to bestselling author Shaunti Feldhahn (and her husband Jeff) you can have a map to what makes the opposite sex tick. Culled from hundreds of interviews and scientific research, the Feldhahns debunk the notion that women are complicated and mysterious and explore the secret desires, fears and battles men face in order to open the door to understanding and loving your spouse the way you have always wanted. Visit Shaunti's website to learn more about these books.

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
A lot of Christian families have a copy of this book in their libraries. But chances are only the man of the house has read it. SpringHill counselor Kevin Cook recently finished Eldridge's book and decided to buy a copy for his mom. "I think every mom with a teenage boy — or soon to become teenage boy — should read this book," says Kevin. "They would understand their sons so much better." To read more about the author and the book (if you don't have a copy of it handy), visit John Eldredge's website.