When a kindergartener walks into their classroom, the space is built for them. The chairs are small. The crayons are thick. The books are softbound and full of pictures. Slowly, over the years, their world expands—more words, more tools, more responsibility as their brains and bodies are ready for it.

But when it comes to technology in schools, something is off.

We're handing our youngest students open access to the digital equivalent of an AP chemistry lab—filled with volatile content, complex systems, and doors that lead to strangers, exploitation, and surveillance. And unlike the careful safety protocols we apply to real-world materials, we don't yet have the same safeguards for the devices and platforms our children use every day.

This is the reality Andy Liddell, principal at the EdTech Law Center, laid bare on a recent episode of the Screen Guardians Podcast. His law center represents families in cases where kids have been harmed by school-issued technology—through data mining, unsafe digital access, online exploitation, and broken systems that don't know how (or when) to intervene.

This isn't a fear-based narrative. It's a truth-based one.

And it's more urgent than most people realize.

I've always believed in the power of a story—especially when it comes from someone who's lived every moment of it.

That's why I invited Ben Tracy onto the Screen Guardians platform. Ben isn't just a digital safety advocate.

He's a man who ran across the United States—3,100 miles, 125 days, 120 marathons—all for one purpose: to draw attention to the ways digital harm is impacting our kids.

And he isn't here for buzzwords or vague warnings. He's here to talk about what's real—about the lives we've lost, the lives we can still protect, and the hard conversations every parent, educator, school, and student needs to have.

This heartfelt episode explores how school-issued devices can quietly expose children to harmful content—and what parents can do to stay informed and involved.

Sometimes parenting in a digital world feels less like walking a line—and more like walking a tightrope. No net. No guarantees. Just hope that we've done enough to protect them.

Recently, I sat in conversation with two deeply thoughtful parents and my co-host, Detective Kevin Cronister—someone who has spent the last decade uncovering hidden threats to children online. We gathered around a table (virtually), not because we had answers, but because we had questions. Big ones.

This episode wasn't easy.

It surfaced grief, disbelief, and fierce love. The kind of love that wakes you up and won't let you sit still.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/harmful-school-issued-devices/

There are conversations I wish we didn't have to have.

But here we are—because ignoring hard truths doesn't protect our children. And pretending the digital world isn't changing at an alarming pace only leaves families more vulnerable. That's why we created the Screen Guardians podcast. It's not just information we're sharing—it's a lifeline for parents, educators, and anyone desperate to understand what's really happening behind screens.

In a recent episode, I sat down with Kevin Cronister—ICAC lead detective and father of five—to talk about something no one wants to think about: the rising digital exploitation of children.

It's a heavy topic, but we approached it the same way we always do: anchored in truth, softened with compassion, and focused on practical hope.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/emerging-online-threats-to-kids/

There are some conversations that feel too big to begin.

Talking about the digital world and our kids—what they're exposed to, what they're carrying, how their brains and hearts are shaped by screens—that's one of those conversations. It's big. It's overwhelming. And for parents and educators alike, it can feel like we're already behind.

But today, I want to offer you a different story. A slower, steadier one. A story about ordinary people doing sacred work in their homes, schools, and churches…one conversation at a time.

Recently, I sat down with Sarah Siegand, an author, speaker, and co-founder of Parents Who Fight. For nearly a decade, Sarah and her husband have quietly and consistently helped thousands of families navigate digital safety—not through fear or shame, but through wisdom, community, and deeply-rooted love.

Sarah joined me on the Screen Guardians podcast on the day her new book launched. It's called Next Gen Tech Reset, and it's designed for church and youth leaders who want to reimagine how we engage with teens—not just in ministry, but in a world where algorithms, anxiety, and constant comparison have become the norm.

This post is a reflection on that conversation—not a summary, but a story of hope for parents, educators, and leaders who want to begin again. Who want to do it differently, starting now.

Shownotes: https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/one-conversation-shifts-digital-parenting-strategies/

There are moments in parenting when something small nudges at your attention—and then, without warning, that "small" thing becomes a defining shift. That's what happened to Gretchen Shanahan in 2018.

She remembers it clearly—the way the questions started stacking up in her mind. Why are my kindergartners using iPads during indoor recess? How much screen time are they actually getting during the school day? Who's counting?

At the time, she didn't label herself a digital wellness advocate or a trailblazer. She was simply a mom asking questions.

But questions can be catalytic. And Gretchen's curiosity eventually led her to become one of the leading voices on parental digital wellness—founding Digitally Wise Consulting, speaking on stages, and currently standing in the midst of one of the most significant lawsuits calling for greater protections around student data privacy.

I sat down with Gretchen for a powerful conversation that moved between her personal choices, classroom culture, and the very real risks families face when children are immersed in technologies we don't fully understand or regulate.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/student-data-privacy-screens-in-schools/

What happens when protecting children takes a back seat to bureaucracy, miscommunication, or worse—inaction?

In one of the most emotionally charged and urgent episodes of the Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie Longhauser and co-host Detective Kevin Cronister dive deep into a real-life case that shocked a local school community and ignited a movement for legislative change.

In February 2024, a shocking incident occurred at Blue River Elementary School in the Blue Valley School District of Kansas. A registered sex offender, convicted of possessing hundreds of hours of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), was granted permission to attend a K–5 school dance—an event filled with children as young as five.

Yes, it was legal. And yes, it could very well happen again.

In this follow-up, we bring you the firsthand voices of the parents who experienced this violation of trust and are now pushing for statewide legislative change and urgent school policy reform.

This isn't just their story—it's a call to action for every parent, educator, and policymaker.

Let's dive in.

For a detailed breakdown of the timeline, initial fallout, and legal loopholes that allowed this to occur, be sure to check out Episode 7 of the Screen Guardians Podcast, titled "When Schools Fail: A Predator at the Dance" 🔗

We've all heard the warnings about screen time and social media overuse, but what actually happens when students step away from it completely? At Screen Guardians, we recently sat down with Giuliana, a recent graduate from Faustina Academy, for a raw and insightful conversation about growing up without social media during high school—and how it shaped her confidence, friendships, and mental health.

Her story is a powerful reminder of what's possible when schools—alongside families—prioritize social media safety for kids.

👉 Stay tuned for more real stories and strategies on Screen Guardians Podcast — by Kids Digital Health Hub, the trusted name in K–12 digital wellness and safety.

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/social-media-safety-for-kids/

In this powerful episode of the Screen Guardians Podcast, host Katie Longhauser sits down with Principal Christina Mehaffey of Faustina Academy—a leader courageous enough to ask the hard questions about tech, culture, and the emotional well-being of kids. What followed was a school-wide transformation that not only reshaped student behavior, but rewired an entire community's mindset on how to raise children in a digital world.

If you're a parent, educator, or community leader wondering "Is this just how it is now?"—this story will show you it doesn't have to be.

In today's always-connected world, navigating teen mental health and digital safety has never been more urgent—or more complex. As smartphones replace face-to-face conversations and social media becomes a primary social arena, our children are being shaped by experiences that we, as parents, never encountered growing up.

Behind every screen is a young person trying to belong, express, and cope—and sometimes, that digital world can become overwhelmingly dark.

This powerful story from educator and mother Ellen Riley reveals the raw reality of what can happen when online missteps meet real-world consequences—and why grace, education, and empathy must be at the center of how we support our kids.

When you meet Ellen Riley, you'd never know that behind her composed demeanor and compassionate heart is a mother who lives every day with the unimaginable loss of her son. On May 24th, 2021, Ellen's 14-year-old son Aiden took his life—and her family's world changed forever.

But Ellen's bravery and willingness to speak out is helping transform pain into purpose.

Show Notes and Photos:

https://kidsdigitalhealthhub.com/teen-mental-health-and-digital-safety/