Crack The Code

03/19/2026

Tonight at 5pm Silverhill Elementary School!

SOCIAL MEDIA NIGHT!! We have a new time for Social Media Night with Kristi Bush on Thursday! We are moving it to 5:00! We will have gift cards to raffle for those in attendance. The class with the most parental/guardian participation will get to have Popsicles with Principals at a later date during school! Due to sensitive material, we ask that no children attend. We can't wait to see you there!!

03/16/2026

Last week when speaking with 8th graders I told them a similar story...and then said "I dont care!" They all laughed. Many nodded their heads in agreement. Some even clapped. Seems like even our kids are feelin a certain way....

Truly.

03/16/2026

New Podcast Episode: Minecraft & Kids

If your child plays Minecraft...or is asking to...you’ll want to listen to this episode.

Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the world, but many parents don’t fully understand what it is, how it works, or where some of the real safety concerns can appear.

In this episode of Protect Our Kids, I break down:

• what Minecraft actually is
• the difference between the game versions
• where safety concerns can arise
• why public servers can be risky
• the growing legal conversations around gaming addiction
• and the boundaries that worked in our own home

Minecraft isn’t necessarily the enemy but like anything online, kids need guidance, boundaries, and conversations around it.

If gaming is happening in your house, like it did in ours for many years... this episode will help you understand the world your kids are stepping into.

🎧 Listen here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lwo6MBtxHPq3RNkkKhyB9?si=GCGMbFOuTLS-xe9x3heB9Q

Protect Our Kids With Kristi Bush · Episode

03/12/2026

Somewhere between student conferences, social media research, and being a complete book nerd…
I send out a newsletter once a month-ish...
and if you’re not on the list yet, you might be missing out on some pretty good stuff.
📱 What’s happening in the world of social media, tech, and our kids
📚 The books I’m currently loving (because I’m a proud book nerd)
🎧 Podcasts that are making me think
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Real-life parenting support as we try to raise good humans in a very digital world
Think of it as a coffee chat in your inbox… just without the drive time or someone asking you for snacks every five minutes.
It’s free.
It’s helpful.
And I promise to take up very little inbox real-estate.

Check out this months newsletter below then join here...https://knbcommunications.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d3cb5c9266d80f60790af2cfd&id=41123f1313

Getting you an email on time. Like…monthly. You know…what the title of the newsletter says. I have a million excuses but the word BUSY is what keeps popping up. I mean aren’t we all so darn busy though? I also do not want to take up too much of your inbox real estate. If you are anything like ...

03/11/2026

We are rescheculed! I will be Silverhill Elementary next Thursday March 19th!

03/11/2026

Another successful conversation with the 8th grade students at Spanish Fort Middle! I had the opportunity to spend my day with SFMS students chatting about “Think Before You Snap”. Kicked off each class with a glitter demonstration. I poured bright blue glitter in my hand and told the students that each tiny piece represented a moment on social media. A snap, post message or comment. Some amazing. Some…maybe not our best decisions. Then I rubbed my hands together and glitter went everywhere. When I tried to wipe it away, some stuck. Our posts are a bit like the glitter. We can erase some, some go away…but our big mis steps can sometimes stick to us and shine brighter than all of the amazing things we have been doing. This is why it was so important that we discuss using our THINKING brain over our IMPULSE brain when it comes to using social media. Helping kids pause for a few minutes before they post can make all the difference! The students were amazing and I love my time with them so much! Thank you Leslie Atchison Wheeler for inviting me to speak with the students. I am so thankful for our partnership! Up next month is a complete review of what we discussed all year! I can not wait!

03/08/2026

I love this SO much! There needs to be more women represented within AI.

Today is International Women’s Day. This is a structural argument, not a celebratory post.

03/05/2026

Parents please talk to your kids!

03/02/2026

“My child is addicted to their phone.”
I hear this all the time.
But what if that’s not the full story?
In this episode, I talk about something we don’t discuss enough…the difference between addiction and binge-style behavior when it comes to our kids and screens.
Because most kids aren’t sitting at the extreme end…
They’re living in the gray space.
We talk about:�✔ What’s really happening in their brains�✔ Why social media is designed to keep them hooked�✔ Why screen time alone isn’t the problem�✔ What parents can actually DO to help
This isn’t about panic.�It’s about understanding and leading better.
🎧 Listen now and share with another parent who needs this perspective. You can find it on sootify below or on any of your favorite platforms!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oPpJ7GO0xgfDYNvNdAPC4

Protect Our Kids With Kristi Bush · Episode

02/28/2026

John and I were truly honored to attend the Evening of Education Champions with CPC as a proud Gold Sponsor. Hosted by the Baldwin County Education Coalition at The Venue in downtown Fairhope, it was an inspiring night dedicated to uplifting the future of education in our community.

The impact of this event reaches far beyond one evening—supporting the Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarship and the Josh Hall Memorial Scholarship, both of which invest in students and families who feel called to the field of education. These scholarships are helping shape the next generation of teachers, leaders, and difference-makers.

We are incredibly grateful to be part of a community that values and invests in education in such meaningful ways. It was a beautiful evening filled with purpose, connection, and hope—and we are proud that CPC could play a small role in supporting such an important mission.

02/25/2026

MY KID IS ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONE! Sound familiar?
Social media addiction is currently a hot topic in the news. With the "social media addiction trial" happening right now there is alot of discussion around teens and social media/device addiction. I became curious about this in 2023 and it turned into one of my first blog posts. Which was short and woefully inept in my ability to answer any questions definitively about teens and social media addiction. I have now written a follow up piece. I am not sure I provide a much more definitive answer around addiction, but I do now know with complete certainty HOW we must address leading our kids in this space. If you have every said "MY KIDS IS ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONE"....this one is for you....

Let’s be honest, we have all heard the phrases: my child is addicted to their phone, they can’t put it down, it’s like a drug. In the heat of a power struggle over a screen, those words land with the force of certainty. It inevitably comes up by a concerned parent at each of my conferences. Bu...

02/23/2026

First a huge shout out to Spotify for always catching my “best side”. Feels very in line with my level of awkwardness in general 😎

Ok guys this one might hit a little deeper than expected…
In this episode of Protect Our Kids, I’m talking about something we are not discussing enough and thats how social media is quietly shaping our kids’ identity.
Not just their mood.�Not just their screen time.�Their sense of who they are.
We’re diving into:�✔ Why teens are creating multiple versions of themselves online�✔ How influencer culture is shaping their values and self-worth�✔ What “parasocial relationships” are (and why they matter)�✔ Why this goes far beyond anxiety or self-esteem�✔ What parents can actually DO to help
This isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness and leadership.
Because the question isn’t just:�“How much time is my child spending online?”
It’s:�👉 Who are they becoming because of it?
🎧 Listen now and share this with another parent who needs to hear it.
Found on Spotify, Apple or any of your favorite platforms.

Protect Our Kids With Kristi Bush · Episode