Contributor at Springs Daily · Writing since July 2026
Covering local news and community stories in Colorado Springs. Writes about parenting.
YunHeng recalled about 730 LandTale adult portable bed rails on October 1 due to entrapment and asphyxiation risks. The product fails to meet the mandatory federal safety standard for bed rails and lacks required hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on October 15 for about 2,100 Primark 101 Dalmatians children's coin purses after testing found phthalate concentrations above legally permitted levels. Phthala
October is halfway through, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has a clear message for parents: the window to get your kids vaccinated against the flu before peak season is closing fast. The AAP's 2026–27 influenza g
Colorado Springs School District 11 has a $775 million bond measure on the November ballot — and with three weeks to go before the vote, a new breakdown published this week puts a specific dollar figure on what it would
The October weekends in Colorado Springs are running out fast — and this one is loaded with options for families. Whether you're after pumpkin patches, spooky zoo experiences, free workshops, or a festival that invites t
With Halloween 17 days away, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of Ricky Joy Sour Crush candy that Colorado Springs parents should know about — especially if you've already started stocking up on
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced in September a recall of Sweet Cubby children's two-piece loungewear sets due to a burn hazard. The sets fail the mandatory flammability standard for children's sleep
The controversy surrounding Lutheran High School in Parker — and the racism allegations leveled against it by Colorado Springs-area students — took new shape on Wednesday when Palmer Ridge High School's football coach pu
The Colorado Springs Cool Science Festival has been running since October 3, and it closes Sunday, October 18. That leaves five days — including a full weekend — for families who haven't made it out yet, or who want to s
The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its policy on raw milk and raw dairy products, renewing its call for a national ban. The updated statement cites new data on two specific risks — H5N1 avian influenza and li
Two baby bath seat models have been recalled due to serious drowning and entrapment hazards. If you have either product, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says to stop using it immediately.
Colorado had five pediatric deaths from influenza during the 2025-26 flu season — and the state's child vaccination rate last year was approximately 34.4%, well below the national average of around 52%. The American Acad
The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on September 3, 2026, for SHEIN Spiral Toys — approximately 963 units sold on SHEIN.com between September 2025 and May 2026. The toys contain small ball components t
Friday, October 9, is parent-teacher conference day for families in Colorado Springs School District 11 and Falcon School District 49. For D11, the day is designated as a teacher work day with conferences scheduled. For
If you have a child under 9 and you haven't scheduled their flu vaccine yet, this week is when it starts to matter. The reason is simple: some children need two doses, and if you wait too long, you run out of time to get
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled approximately 10,750 GBYMIUY Magnetic Stick Figure Toy Sets on October 1, 2026. If you have these toys at home, remove them from children immediately.
The Colorado Springs Gazette editorial board endorsed Ballot Question 4A — D11's $775 million school bond — in an editorial published today. The endorsement from the region's largest newspaper marks a significant milesto
October in Colorado Springs delivers a strong lineup of family events — and a good number of them are free. This week brings two worth getting on your calendar right now: the Halloween Costume Exchange on Thursday and Na
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced an expanded recall of 245,124 battery-powered light-up toys sold by ZMC Group. The products — which include light-up yo-yos, maracas, wands, and LED headba
Academy School District 20 has earned Colorado's highest district accreditation rating for the 18th consecutive year, the district announced this fall. The milestone is notable precisely because of its consistency — 18 y
The Cool Science Festival is back in Colorado Springs, running Oct. 3–18 with 16 days of science, technology, engineering, art, and math programming spread across venues throughout the city. Most events are free or low c
October is one of the busier months on the Colorado Springs school calendar, with teacher workdays, parent-teacher conferences, and fall breaks landing across different dates depending on whether your kids are in D11 or
October arrived in Colorado Springs this week, and the first full weekend of the month is packed. From a free science carnival at UCCS to pumpkin picking at a historic farm, there's no shortage of reasons to get outside
A significant change is underway in Colorado Springs' District 49. The D49 Board of Education voted to dissolve the Education ReEnvisioned Board of Cooperative Education Services — known as ERBOCES — and absorb approxima
The 13th annual Colorado Springs Oktoberfest takes place this Saturday, October 3, at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry — and admission is free. Whether your family is into the Dachshund Dash, the Das Bake-Auf ba
FamilyFest is coming back to Colorado Springs on Saturday, October 10, and admission is free for every child 12 and under. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. at 4845 List Drive, organized by ExpoPros. It's shaping up to
One of Colorado Springs' best fall traditions is back this week, and it's celebrating a milestone. Venetucci Farm Pumpkin Fest opens October 1 for its 90th anniversary season, running every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday t
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled the Mikario Trading 5-in-1 Convertible Baby Gym after determining its floor mat can obstruct an infant's breathing. The product violates the mandatory federal safe
The Colorado Springs 2026 Park System Master Plan just completed its public comment period on September 22. The plan is the city's long-range roadmap for parks, trail systems, open spaces, community centers, and recreati
One week from today, Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site will host its annual Harvest Festival — a full-day outdoor event that's become one of the most reliable fall traditions on the Colorado Springs family calendar. It's ha
The federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program has officially added COVID-19 vaccines to its 2026-27 contract, meaning providers enrolled in the program can now request doses for eligible patients. For the roughly half
October is filling up fast in Colorado Springs, and two events are worth putting on your family calendar now — one this coming weekend, and one later in the month that's become a genuine regional tradition.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on September 24, 2026 for approximately 324 units of the 5Color bicycle helmet, size Small. The helmet fails to meet federal safety standards for bicycle helmet
Colorado Springs School District 11 families have one week to submit open enrollment applications for the current school year. The October 1 deadline applies to families with students already enrolled in D11 who want to
Colorado Springs families have a free reason to head to north Colorado Springs this Saturday. Liberty High School in Academy District 20 is hosting the Liberty Lancers Car Show on September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 8
Colorado Springs' most inclusive outdoor adventure program just got bigger — and more families than ever can take part.
Every school in District 49's POWER Zone moved up this year — and that kind of across-the-board progress doesn't happen by accident.
One of the best free family events in Colorado Springs is back — and it is bigger than ever.
October is one of the better months to take advantage of free museum access in Colorado — and for Colorado Springs families, the options are better than most people realize. Between the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum's
One of the most anticipated fall events in Colorado Springs is back — and tickets for Boo at the Zoo 2026 are on sale now. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's annual Halloween tradition runs on seven evenings in October, giving fami
If your family has the Jerify Magnetic Stick Figure Toy Sets sitting on a shelf or in a toy bin, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is asking you to stop using them immediately. The toys were recalled on Septe
October is two weeks away, and Colorado Springs has a genuinely strong lineup of fall and Halloween events for families this year. Whether you're planning a weekend pumpkin patch run, looking for something to do on Hallo
Families with young children in the eastern part of Colorado Springs have a new option to look into this fall. District 49 opened two new early childhood education classrooms at the Creekside Success Center — the D49 Stu
If your family has been thinking about adding a dog, or just wants a reason to get outside on a September Saturday, you've got a good one today. Bark at Briargate runs from 11 AM to 3 PM at The Promenade Shops at Briarga
Pumpkin season in Colorado Springs officially starts this weekend. Long Neck Pumpkin Farm opens Saturday, September 20 — which means if you want to be among the first families out there this year, your window is two days
If your household has kids in Academy District 20 and your morning felt a little looser than usual, there's a reason for it: today, Friday, September 18, is a two-hour late start day for all D20 schools. Every school in
If you have kids in Colorado Springs School District 11, here's something worth knowing heading into the fall semester: the preliminary school performance framework results for 2025-26 are in, and D11 high schools came o
Two weeks from Saturday, the Cool Science Festival kicks off at UCCS and spreads across Colorado Springs for a 16-day run of free and low-cost science events for families, school groups, and anyone who's ever wanted to k
If you have a toddler kitchen tower at home, you'll want to check the brand name before your child uses it again. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced recalls on two separate products — the Boon PIVO
Colorado Springs families have six days to weigh in on a document that will influence the city's parks, trails, and open spaces for years to come. The public comment period on the Draft Park System Master Plan closes Sep
If you've purchased a six-drawer dresser from Amazon or Wayfair in the past two years, it's worth checking whether your specific model is among the three brands recalled this month by the Consumer Product Safety Commissi
SQT LLC is recalling Lontcs Busy Boards sold on Amazon because they violate the federal lead paint ban. The boards were available on Amazon from May 2024 through July 2026, priced around $31. If your family purchased one
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that SHEIN Distribution Corporation is recalling about 963 spiral toys because small ball components violate the federal small ball ban for toys intended for chil
A month into the 2026-27 school year, most Colorado Springs families are out of the "fresh start" energy and into the actual work of establishing fall routines. And if screen time has quietly expanded — on tablets after
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been in Colorado Springs for 100 years. Tomorrow, it opens what may be the most significant new addition in a generation.
September is the quiet high point of outdoor living in Colorado Springs. Average daily highs sit around 74 degrees. On average, there are only three rainy days in the entire month. The summer crowds have thinned at the p
Dahlia Days at Gather Mountain Blooms is happening this morning — September 12 from 8 AM to noon at 5210 S. U.S. 85/87. This is one of only two remaining dates for the event this season; the September 5 Dahlia Days was p
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning telling consumers to immediately stop using the Aila+Aiden Baby Lounger — and in a development that will frustrate many families who purchased it, the comp
For Colorado Springs families, fall parent-teacher conferences in D11, D20, and D49 are typically 4 to 8 weeks out at this point in the school year. That seems like a comfortable distance — until you realize that October
September in Colorado Springs means cooling mornings, back-to-school routines, and — for families with infants and young children — the beginning of RSV season. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is one of the leading
September is still in full swing, but October tends to arrive faster than anyone expects — especially once the school year settles into a rhythm and weekends start filling up. Colorado Springs families have a genuinely s
Families in east Colorado Springs looking for preschool options have more choices this fall. Falcon School District 49 opened two new preschool classrooms at its Student Success Center to start the 2026-27 school year, r
In 2023, just four children across the entire state of Colorado were waiting for assistance from the state's subsidized childcare program. In September 2026, that number has surpassed 14,000. If you're a Colorado Springs
If you've got curious kids at home, mark the calendar now. The Colorado Springs Cool Science Festival runs October 3–18, 2026, bringing 16 days of science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities to the communi
The third annual Pikes Peak Youth Fishing Derby is happening September 13 at Crystal Creek Reservoir, six miles up the Pikes Peak Highway — and it's one of the better free family events of the fall season. If you have a
One of the most spectacular family events of the year is coming back to Colorado Springs. The Pikes Peak Regional Airshow returns to the Colorado Springs Airport on September 19 and 20, bringing two full days of aerial d
Families who purchased the Kids Kithmas Plaid Lounge Sets from Kith during the 2025 holiday season need to take immediate action: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled the sets due to a burn hazard. Th
A three-day weekend is a wonderful thing, right up until Sunday night when you realize tomorrow is a school day and the bedtime has drifted 90 minutes later than usual. Labor Day is one of the most reliable routine disru
If your pediatrician hasn't mentioned weight-loss medications at a recent well-child visit, there's a reasonable chance they might at the next one — particularly if your child is in a higher weight category. The numbers
Today marks the final day of the Labor Day Lift Off, Colorado Springs' beloved hot air balloon festival that has grown over 50 years into one of the region's most anticipated family events. If you made it out Saturday or
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its screen time guidance earlier this year, and the shift is more meaningful than a new hour limit. The AAP's February 2026 update moves away from time-based rules and toward a
Before fall even gets going, the Labor Day Lift Off runs September 5-7 at Memorial Park — free, with 65 hot air balloons launching at 7 AM each morning and evening balloon glows Saturday and Sunday nights. We covered the
Every year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) publish an updated recommended childhood immunization schedule. The 2026 schedule was published in the spri
If your baby has a Skip Hop Sesame Street Elmo Silicone Teether, check the packaging for the model number 9R263210. If that's the number on your teether, stop using it immediately.
Sometimes the best family memories come from events built specifically around one relationship. The 3rd annual Buck-A-Roo Ball is one of those events — a western-themed evening designed for moms and their sons, hosted by
For most Colorado Springs families, the 2026–27 school year is already a few weeks old. The first-day chaos is behind you. The routines are (mostly) taking shape. But September is actually a useful time to pause and take
If you're looking for a way to close out summer in Colorado Springs, the calendar already has one thing on it for this weekend: the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. The festival turns 50 this year, and it's coming ba
Every September, pediatric emergency rooms across the country see a spike in children's asthma attacks. Pediatric pulmonologists and the American Lung Association consistently identify September as the highest-risk month
If you're looking for a full-day family outing before fall weather settles in, put September 19 and 20 on your calendar. The Pikes Peak Regional Airshow returns to Colorado Springs Airport — and it's one of the most genu
If you have a HARPPA Nordi Foldable Toddler Tower Stool in your kitchen, stop using it now. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall of 47,166 of these popular learning tower stools due t
If your child has been talking about flag football, soccer, or tackle football this fall, registration windows are open now through Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The city's fall youth sports p
As students across Colorado Springs head into the 2026–27 school year, families in Colorado Springs School District 11 are stepping into a classroom that looks a bit different than the one from last year. D11 has rolled
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an urgent warning against Budget Baby Boost padded crib bumpers that were sold on TikTok Shop between March and July 2026. According to the CPSC, the bumpers violate the
Details and registration: coloradosprings.gov/PRCS
Colorado Springs has been sending hot air balloons into the sky over Memorial Park every Labor Day weekend for 50 years, and this year's edition is shaping up to be the biggest one yet. The 50th annual Labor Day Lift Off
When more than 14,000 Colorado Springs students walked into their Colorado Springs School District 11 classrooms on August 12, each of them already had what they needed. No supply lists, no shopping trips, no missing pen
HABA USA has recalled its Rainbow Rattle Grasping and Teething Toy due to a choking and ingestion hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on August 27, 2026. A glued knot on the toy's elastic cord can co
If you purchased a Kmaier infant walker on Target.com this summer, stop using it immediately. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of approximately 243 Kmaier infant walkers due to a deadly fall
If you've been tracking your kids' screen time by the clock and feeling like you're always losing, here's some news from January 2026: the American Academy of Pediatrics officially retired the "two hours or less per day"
If you purchased a Vevor baby swing online in early 2025, you need to stop using it and contact the manufacturer for a full refund.
Having children changes your financial life. Most parents know this intuitively. A new national survey now quantifies exactly how much — and the numbers are significant enough to take seriously, especially for families i
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued two new recalls that Colorado Springs families with young children should know about. Both involve products that have been sold to consumers and that pose a serious inges
This is the first Sunday of the 2026 school year with all three Colorado Springs school districts simultaneously in session — and the experience of "being back" looks quite different depending on which district your fami
As of this weekend, all three Colorado Springs school districts are fully in session. D49 started August 3-4 and is now into week four. D11 started August 12 and is wrapping week two. D20 started August 17-18 and just fi
A large-scale 2026 study of more than 50,000 American children and adolescents has found a significant link between high daily screen time and increased mental health risk — findings that carry real weight for Colorado S
With school back in session across Colorado Springs, a new survey from the American Academy of Pediatrics puts some numbers to something a lot of parents may have already suspected: teenagers are turning to AI chatbots w
Two notable developments from Colorado Springs school districts this week — one involving a structural change at District 49, and another that's a straightforward good-news story for D11 families.
A CDC study published this month in Pediatrics — the flagship journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics — found that flu vaccines reduce children's and teenagers' risk of dying from influenza by 80 percent. That's a
The 50th annual Labor Day Lift Off is coming to Memorial Park in Colorado Springs on September 5, 6, and 7, 2026. Admission is free. About 200,000 people are expected to attend over the weekend. This is one of the bigges
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled multiple baby lounger products sold on Amazon and other online retailers in August 2026, citing suffocation, entrapment, and fall hazards. Two of the primary brand
Falcon School District 49 is growing its early childhood education program this fall, opening two new preschool classrooms at the newly opened D49 Student Success Center.
Three more product recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are affecting children's items sold online — and at least one of them carries a risk of death if not acted on immediately. Here's what you nee
When Colorado Springs School District 11 opened its doors on August 12, more than 14,000 kindergarten through eighth-grade students walked in with something they didn't have to shop for: a free, grade-specific school sup
The first full week of school for Colorado Springs families is almost done. If you're looking for something to do this weekend before the second week begins, Colorado Springs has a couple of events worth knowing about —
If you have a Taleco Gear baby jumper, baby swing, or 2-in-1 baby jumper and swing in your home, stop using it immediately.
District 49 Early Childhood Education is opening two new preschool classrooms at the Student Success Center this August, expanding early learning options for families in the Falcon area of east Colorado Springs. The clas
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on August 13, 2026 for Taleco Gear baby jumpers and swings. Approximately 41,100 units are affected in the United States, with an additional 150 in Canada. The
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for Vevor Baby Swings sold by Sanven Technology. Approximately 1,020 units are affected. The hazard is a violation of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act — and parents
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued recalls on two products commonly used by families with young children: GOPO Toys Pull String Teething Toys and HARPPA Nordi Toddler Tower Stools. Both were sold on Amazon
If you've spent years quietly ignoring the American Academy of Pediatrics' screen time rules — the ones that said school-age kids should have no more than one hour per day — you can stop feeling guilty. In January 2026,
Colorado Springs families looking for an outdoor destination before school starts have a new option — and it's one of the most significant public trail additions this city has seen in years. Blodgett Open Space completed
Colorado Springs is opening the school year with triple-digit heat. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory for El Paso County from 9 AM to 8 PM today, with temperatures forecast to reach approximately 100 de
Summer is peak season for U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls — and this one has three separate actions worth knowing about if you have a baby or toddler at home. As the school-year chaos picks back up for ol
Three Colorado Springs school districts, three different first-day dates. Here's the quick-reference breakdown for the 2026–2027 school year, along with a few things to verify before your family's first morning.
Colorado Springs School District 11's board of education meets this Tuesday, August 5, at 5:30 p.m. On the agenda is a vote on whether to place a $775 million bond measure on the November 2026 ballot. If the board votes
If your family is in Falcon School District 49, the wait is almost over. The 2026–2027 school year begins tomorrow — and the district is using a staggered start to ease the transition for certain students.
Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876. That was 150 years ago today, which makes this Colorado's sesquicentennial — a milestone the state has been building toward all year. In Colorado Springs, the celebration is hap
Three products — two formal CPSC recalls and one safety warning — are worth checking in your home this weekend. All three involve products commonly sold on Amazon, and all three carry serious hazards: suffocation, drowni
If you've taken a young child to a well-child visit recently, you've probably noticed books in the waiting room and questions from the pediatrician about reading aloud at home. That's not accidental — it's the result of
The last weekend of July is a strong one for COS families. There's a milestone birthday celebration, a final shot at the summer's most popular zoo event, a free backpack giveaway timed almost perfectly for the first day
The Aspen Acres Fire is moving in the right direction. Evacuation orders have been lifted across the communities most affected — Wetmore, Beulah, Rye, San Isabel, and Colorado City — and the fire now stands at about 101,
Two high chair products are prompting action from the Consumer Product Safety Commission this week. One is a formal recall; the other is an unusual safety warning issued because the manufacturer refused to participate in
Falcon families, the 2026-27 school year is nearly here. Falcon School District 49 opens its doors on August 3 for a subset of students, with the rest following on August 4 — meaning D49's school year begins in under a w
Colorado Springs is adding eight new school zone designations near D11 middle and high schools before the end of the summer. For families who drive near those schools during drop-off and pick-up hours, that means new spe
If your family is still figuring out what to do with this Saturday, here's a strong answer: drive about 20 minutes west of Colorado Springs and spend the morning in Green Mountain Falls at Bronc Day.
The BeMySecret Cars and Anime Con returns to Colorado Springs for its 5th anniversary this weekend, running Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26, at the Colorado Springs Event Center on Palmer Park Boulevard. Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics has published a new clinical report in the July 2026 issue of Pediatrics updating its guidance on iron deficiency screening, diagnosis, and treatment in children and adolescents. This i
Target is recalling approximately 49,000 Gigglescape Under the Sea Popping Toys due to a choking hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on July 2, 2026, following nine reports of the cle
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's centennial year continues with one of its more unusual programming additions: two Dog Days Fridays that let well-behaved dogs into the zoo alongside their families. The dates are this Friday, July
If your family picked up Kith plaid loungewear sets for your kids this past holiday season, stop using them now. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled Kith Retail's "Baby Kithmas" and "Kids Kithmas" pl
If you bought a SDADI kitchen tower step stool from Amazon, Walmart, Target, or Best Buy in the past couple of years, stop using it and move it away from your kids. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a fo
There are about two weeks left to take advantage of D11's Summer Food Service Program, which provides free lunch to any child or teen ages 1 through 18 in Colorado Springs. No paperwork, no registration — just show up du
If your family picked up a Build-A-Bear Heartwarming Hugs Bear earlier this year, stop using it and return it to a store. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission officially recalled the bear on April 30, 2026, citing
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled the Wade Logan Annyka 9-Drawer Fabric Dresser due to a tip-over and entrapment hazard that poses a risk of serious injury or death to children. If you have this dr
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued multiple recalls in 2026 for children's toys that contain button cell batteries children can access and swallow. If you have bought inexpensive LED toys from Amazon
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