Category: Parenting

Growing up means outgrowing things, and for kids, this often includes their mattresses. But what do you do with a mattress that’s no longer needed? As parents, it’s helpful to recognize that these transitions provide unique opportunities to teach children about sustainability and the value of repurposing.

Throwing it away adds to landfill waste. So, it’s important to find smarter, eco-friendly solutions.

Fortunately, there are options available if you know where to look.  Here are a few practical and creative ways to repurpose your child’s outgrown mattress.

Repurposing Kid’s Outgrown Mattress

It’s no secret that children grow quickly, and with this growth comes a rapid accumulation of items that no longer fit their needs. This includes mattresses, which can contribute significantly to landfill waste.

Here are some ideas to transform it into something new and useful:

Transforming the Mattress into a Playmat or Pet Bed

One of the simplest and most effective ways to repurpose an old mattress is by turning it into a playmat for children or a bed for pets. The padding of the mattress provides a soft and safe area for children to play. For a pet bed, you can cut the mattress to an appropriate size for your pet, cover it with a durable fabric, and have a comfortable bed for your furry friend.

DIY Projects Using Mattress Materials

These are some of the materials of a mattress that can be deconstructed and used in various DIY projects:

• Cushioning: Utilize mattress foam to create comfortable padding in homemade furniture or unique craft items.
• Gardening: Transform mattress springs into innovative garden trellises for plant support.
• Art: Craft artistic installations or sculptures using the springs from the mattress.
• Recycling: Repurpose different mattress materials for various eco-friendly DIY projects.

Learn more about the benefits of art therapy and techniques for working with children.

Crafting Sentimental Items into New Keepsakes

Old mattresses can hold sentimental value, especially if they were part of a child’s early years. Materials from these mattresses can be transformed into keepsakes. For example, fabric covers can be used to create memory quilts or pillows, which will preserve memories in a tangible form.

Assessing and Sorting Outgrown Mattress and Baby Gear

When it comes to managing your child’s outgrown mattress and baby gear, it’s a good idea to approach the task systematically.

Identifying Items for Recycling or Disposal

First, evaluate each item’s condition. If a mattress or baby gear is beyond repair or too worn out for further use, recycling is the best option. However, not all areas have easy access to recycling facilities. Check local waste management guidelines to identify the most environmentally friendly disposal methods. You can find more information about mattress disposal here.

Evaluating What Can Be Donated or Regifted

Donation is a fantastic way to extend the life of gently used items while helping others. Not all charitable organizations welcome donations of baby gear and mattresses, but some do accept them as long as they are in good condition. You could also make sure that these items meet safety standards and haven’t been recalled.

Another thoughtful idea is giving the mattress to a friend who is about to have a baby. If the mattress is still in good condition, it can be a valuable gift. It will save the new mom the expense of purchasing a new one while extending the useful life of the mattress.

Considering Selling Gently Used Items for Profit

Selling gently used baby gear and mattresses can be both profitable and sustainable. Online marketplaces, consignment stores, and local parenting groups are great platforms for this. Remember, the key to successful selling is ensuring the items are clean, in good condition, and meet current safety standards.

When to Decide if a Mattress Should Be Repurposed or Replaced

The decision to completely replace a mattress, whether or not your child has outgrown it, often depends on its age and condition. Most mattresses last about seven to ten years with proper care.

Obvious signs like sagging, visible wear and tear, or if your child complains of discomfort, are clear indicators that it’s time for a new mattress. However, if the mattress is still in good shape but no longer suitable for your child’s needs, repurposing it for other uses in your home is an environmentally friendly option​​.

Tips to Extend the Lifespan of Mattresses

Investing in a good mattress for your child is crucial for their development and quality of sleep. However, maintaining and caring for the mattress is equally important to ensure its longevity and continued comfort. Proper maintenance can make the mattress last longer. It can also help the mattress better suit your growing child. This may eliminate the need for a quick replacement.

Proper Maintenance of Mattresses

Regularly Rotate the Mattress

Rotating your child’s mattress is essential to prevent sagging and uneven wear. Depending on the type of mattress, follow these recommendations:

• For foam, latex, and newer innerspring mattresses, rotate every 6 to 12 months.
• Older innerspring models may need rotation every 2 to 6 months.
• Note that certain mattresses with specific designs, like zoned ones, should not be rotated, so always check the manufacturer’s guidelines​​.

Use a Mattress Protector

Using a mattress protector helps keep dirt, sweat, dust mites, and moisture away. And it plays a role in maintaining the mattress’s warranty. Many warranties become void if the mattress is dirty. Mattress protectors, typically water-resistant or waterproof, can significantly prolong the lifespan of the mattress by preventing damage from spills and stains.

Clean the Mattress Regularly

Cleaning the mattress on a regular basis, about every six months, is advisable to maintain its hygiene and longevity. Here’s what you should do:

• Vacuum the mattress to remove dust mites and dead skin cells.
• If there are stains, gently blot them with a suitable cleanser.
• Keep the mattress dry to prevent mold and mildew growth. Use fans or air conditioning to speed up drying if the mattress becomes wet.

Conclusion

When it’s time to deal with your child’s outgrown mattress, it’s not just about making space or getting rid of it. It’s a chance to make smart, eco-friendly choices. By reusing, giving away, or recycling the mattress, you are doing your share to reduce waste. These may be small steps, but they show how small actions can make a big difference. You never know; it might just inspire those around you to think twice before throwing things away.

As Generation Z teens approach adulthood, they will face a series of significant milestones that can be more successfully navigated with careful budgeting and expense planning. From pursuing higher education to saving for a car, or even managing the transition to living on their own, these financial milestones can all be a little daunting.

Here we’ll discuss how you as a parent can help your teen more easily manage these big expenses in life and anything else that might come their way financially.  We’ll offer practical advice and mindful strategies to help you succeed it instructing your child and setting them on the right path.

The Economic Challenges Gen Z Might Face

We’ve all been feeling the effects of rising inflation for the past couple of years, but it’s important as a parent to understand how this could continue to affect your child as they enter adulthood.

Gen Zers are currently between the ages of 11 and 26, so some of them are already experiencing the challenges of adulthood due to rising costs. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that younger Gen Zers are destined for debt as well, but they might if they aren’t adequately prepared.

Interest rates are currently at a 15-year high, and while inflation rates have stabilized, they are 3 percent higher than they were before the pandemic. This means just about everything is more expensive these days and it’s also making it more difficult for people to get approved for credit.

Currently, most adult Gen Zers say that one of the biggest barriers holding them back is the higher cost of living. With so much of their income being sunk into housing expenses, they can’t save up and meet their financial goals.

There is no way to know for certain how rates could change in the coming years, but it is unlikely that there will be any sort of significant drop. This means if you want your teens to be prepared, it’s important to start teaching them how to be wise with their money now so they can be more likely to succeed in their financial endeavors.

How to Help Your Gen Z Teen Avoid Debt and Better Prepare For Life’s Big Milestones

Any parent should want to teach their child how to stay safe with money, but this is even more vital for parents who have teenagers right now who will soon be entering adulthood. Unfortunately, not many schools teach kids about budgeting and healthy spending habits, even though so many young adults in the past decade have struggled with debt.

As such, it is on you as the parent to teach your kid the life skills they will need so they are not so heavily burdened when they enter an economy that is difficult to navigate without a stable financial situation. If you aren’t sure where to start, the tips below can help as you start having these conversations with your teen about money and financial planning.

1. Help Them Learn to Budget

Learning how to budget is the first step to developing a healthier relationship with money. Only some people budget because they think they can easily keep track of everything in their heads. However, teaching your teen how to make a physical budget and lay out all of their potential expenses can help them get a better understanding of why it’s important to plan and save.

Having a physical budget that they can see keeps them more aware of all the expenses in their life and why, even though their bank account seems full, it is perhaps not wise to spend their money on some fancy new item they don’t need. It teaches them how to track their spending and why even though they might have available funds now, those funds might eventually be needed to pay for certain bills or big milestone purchases.

2. Talk to Them About the Importance of an Emergency Fund

It can be more challenging for teens to understand the importance of saving for emergencies when they haven’t needed to be aware of the cost of such things since you’ve taken care of that for them. Unfortunately, emergency costs often contribute to young adults finding themselves in debt, such as suddenly needing to pay for a costly car repair or emergency medical expenses.

These are things they likely didn’t think about as a teen. Even once they enter adulthood, it is hard to rationalize saving for emergencies when they haven’t yet experienced the fear and stress that comes with being in an emergency without enough money. That’s why it’s your job as their parent to help them understand what emergency funds are and why they are important.

3. Help Them Avoid Student Loan Debt

Student loan debt in America currently stands at around $1.77 trillion, and many adults say that this debt has created a significant hurdle that has kept them from achieving their financial goals. While the government is attempting to make education more affordable, it is extremely beneficial to teach your teen how to pay for college without ending up with so much student loan debt. You can also visit Tate for questions about student loan forgiveness to explore options for reducing existing debt.

Below are a few ways they could do this:

• Apply for things like grants, awards, and scholarships first (as many as they can).
• Continue living at home with you to avoid the cost of room and board.
• Take a gap year to find a job and save more money for tuition.
• Take Advanced Placement courses in high school that will limit how many college courses they need to take.
• Attend community college first and then transfer to a state college for their bachelor’s degree.
• Attend a local, in-state college as it’s cheaper than going out-of-state.
• If taking out student loans is necessary, avoid private loans and only take out federal loans.

4. Talk to Them About Saving for Big Expenses

Teaching your teen about general budgeting and financial planning is important, but it can also be helpful to talk to them about saving up for specific things, like buying a car. Your teen might already have a car, but in many situations buying a car is one of the first big milestone expenses teens and young adults face aside from paying for college.

You can use the following strategies to teach your Gen Z teen how to save for a car (or any other big expenses):

• Have your teen establish how much they want to save to afford the car and write down their savings goal.
• Help them understand that there can be additional expenses aside from the cost of the car, such as title and registration fees, sales tax, and insurance.
• Once they have an idea of how much they will need, help them create a budget that includes all their current expenses plus this new one so they can get a better idea of where they might need to cut back costs to help them save.
• Have them set up a designated savings account for the car purchase so they can start putting money into that account and keep it separate from the rest of their money.

In Summary

While your teen can also learn how to be more independent by taking on the responsibility of learning to budget and plan on their own, they won’t have the insights that you do from your years of experience. Even if they don’t seem that interested initially, they will likely thank you down the road when everything you taught them helped them become more financially stable and capable of achieving their goals.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

We understand — picking up a new language can be taxing, exasperating, and occasionally exceedingly tough. And determining the most effective method to learn a new language. It appears almost unachievable.  Various scientific principles, theories, and learning styles are scattered about, and honestly, some languages are simpler to learn than others.

Maybe you’re proficient in French conversation, but writing in Spanish is a no-go. Despite these hurdles, the trend of learning multiple languages is swiftly escalating worldwide, and bilingualism is progressively becoming a prized asset on resumes.

Here are 7 ways to learn a language alongside your kids.

Watch a Movie

For those interested in an effective method of learning a new language without leaving their home, consider watching a foreign film in a different language – no subtitles if possible. This approach enhances your language learning experience and deepens your understanding of the culture associated with that language.

If you’re still learning and need the subtitles, note unfamiliar words and their possible meanings to look up later. After all, discovering new words can be exciting! (Extra tip: If you feel confident and ready to take your language learning a step further, why not venture out and watch a foreign movie at a cinema!)

Take Online Lessons, e.g. in German

Consider exploring Lingoda for your online German lessons needs. This platform is designed to elevate your language acquisition skills. It offers a variety of languages, including German, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French among others.

Professional language educators meticulously curate the course content, and the website has an integrated flashcard feature. Moreover, understanding that fluency in a new language entails speaking it, Lingoda incorporates narratives for you to read aloud, thus hastening your proficiency.

Seek Out a Pen Pal

When your child has aged a little and grasped the essentials of a foreign language, connecting with a pen pal can be an excellent strategy to hone their language skills and foster a sense of independence.

The thrill of a hand-written letter delivered by air mail landing on the doormat (an increasingly uncommon event these days), or an email popping up in their Inbox, can inspire an enthusiastic bout of return correspondence.

Additionally, having an overseas pen pal provides a unique opportunity to explore another culture and understand the variances in lifestyle aspects like schooling, diet, holidays, hobbies, etc. This exemplifies how language immersion can aid your child in broadening their horizons.

Storytelling

Storybooks undeniably offer a wealth of amusement, but swapping tales – whether they’re based in reality or purely the product of imagination – can serve as an excellent opportunity to deepen your connection with your children and foster their communicative abilities.

Pick up children’s books in other languages at the library or purchase them from a bookstore.  Discuss stories drawn from everyday occurrences. Expand their imaginative horizons with whimsical narratives and encourage the blossoming of their creative potential as you concoct stories about all aspects of their environment.

Use Rhymes

Leveraging rhymes can be an effective method to assist your child in acquiring a new language. Every language has rhymes – be it nursery rhymes for the little ones or more sophisticated rhymes for older children. Experimenting with poetry could also prove beneficial!

A rhyme creates a memorable pattern due to the similarity in sound at the end of each line. A known word in a line might rhyme with a new one, making the unfamiliar word easier to remember because of its association with the known one.

Moreover, much like songs and stories, rhymes captivate your child’s imagination, playing a crucial role in memorizing new vocabulary. While your child might not consciously realize it, the words from these rhymes are steadily being etched into their memory.

Encourage Your Child to Start Drawing

This task involves guiding your child to sketch an image based on the description you provide. Initially, you must establish what they will draw specifically – it could be a little girl, a building, or a vehicle. Following that, you will meticulously explain the various components of the sketch and their appearance in the target language. For instance:

Sketch a lofty, slender building with three large windows and a golden entrance. The top should be rosy, and a tiny, ebony bird should be perched on it.

If your child encounters an unfamiliar word, you can mime it and have them guess its meaning. Aim to minimize the use of your mother tongue to optimize the benefits of this exercise.

Tune Into the Radio

Like viewing an international film, consider tuning in to a radio station that broadcasts in the language you’re trying to learn. You can do this while driving, through a podcast, or online.

Attempt to gauge your comprehension level and jot down any familiar yet unclear words for further research. A valuable tip: Listening to news broadcasts in a different language is a highly effective and intense method to quickly pick up vocabulary and sentence structures.

Endnote

Utilizing words to their fullest can be incredibly enjoyable. They have the potential to create stories, songs, and a myriad of other elements that can enhance your children’s eloquence. Foster a positive and engaging learning space to inspire your children to express themselves effectively. This will not only unleash their creativity but also expand their language skills.

As a parent, your child’s health and well-being are among your top priorities. While children can experience occasional minor illnesses, recognizing when it’s time to visit to a general practitioner (GP) is necessary. Understanding the signs of health concerns and knowing when to seek medical attention ensures your child’s continued health and development.

It is our desire to support you as a parent for your own peace of mind, but more importantly, your child’s well-being.  We are not health professionals. You should always consult your local health authorities before prescribing unknown remedies or over the counter medications. With that being said, we did a little research to explore when your child should see a GP and provide guidance on recognizing the signs of potential health issues.

1. Persistent Fever

Fever is a common symptom in children and is often caused by viral infections. However, if your child’s fever persists for more than a few days, is very high (above 104°F or 40°C), or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as lethargy, difficulty breathing, or a rash, then it’s time to consult a GP. A persistent fever may indicate a more significant underlying issue that requires medical evaluation.

2. Skin Abnormalities

Skin issues in children, such as persistent rashes, hives, or unusual growths, may require medical attention. Some skin conditions can be indicative of allergies, infections, or underlying medical conditions. If you notice any concerning changes in your child’s skin, consult with a GP at TapGP for an evaluation.

3. Unexplained Pain

Persistent or unexplained pain in children should be addressed by a medical professional. Whether it’s abdominal pain, headaches, joint pain, or any other type of discomfort, consult with a GP to determine the cause and get appropriate treatment.

4. Behavioral and Developmental Concerns

Behavioral and developmental concerns in children shouldn’t be overlooked. If you notice significant changes in your child’s behavior, mood, or developmental milestones, it may be advisable to consult with a GP. Conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or developmental delays may require early intervention for better outcomes.

5. Frequent Infections

If your child frequently experiences ear infections, throat infections, or urinary tract infections, it may be a sign of an underlying issue. A GP can assess your child’s immune system and overall health to identify potential contributing factors.

6. Growth and Weight Concerns

Significant changes in your child’s growth, weight, or appetite can be indicative of underlying health concerns. Consult a GP if you have concerns about your child’s growth trajectory or if they exhibit sudden or unexplained changes in appetite or weight.

7. Mental Health and Emotional Issues

Good mental health and emotional well-being are vital for children’s overall development. If you notice signs of anxiety, depression, extreme mood swings, or behavioral problems in your child, it’s essential to consult with a GP. They can provide guidance, referrals, or interventions to support your child’s mental health.

8. Routine Check-ups and Vaccinations

Regular well-child checkups with a GP are crucial for monitoring your child’s growth and development. These visits also ensure that your child receives the recommended vaccinations and preventive care to maintain good health.

In conclusion, recognizing when your child should see a GP is vital for ensuring their health and well-being. While some symptoms may resolve on their own, persistent or severe signs of health concerns shouldn’t be ignored.

Consulting with a GP in a timely manner can help diagnose and address potential issues, provide appropriate treatment, and support your child’s long-term health and development. Remember that early intervention and proactive healthcare are key to helping your child thrive.

Read how to choose the best pediatrician for your child.