There are many potential pitfalls for the modern teenager that they may not feel comfortable talking to their parents about, and vice versa. Poor sexual health, substance abuse, and other wellness-damaging behaviours such as drinking and smoking, can hamper an adolescent’s chances of growing up healthy, and also harm their emotional wellbeing. However, an innovative new website from a Sheffield-based developer may provide a way to put your youngsters on the right track.
Known as Thinking Teenagers, the website is filled with videos containing positive messages about keeping fit, living healthily and making the right decisions. Its creator Jack Vennard is a former Royal Marine and pharmaceutical salesman, and has ploughed more than £20,000 into the project, in order to ‘nip problems in the bud’ among youngsters. He hopes that many internet users will discover the information on offer in his site.
According to Vennard, ‘This is not for teenagers with problems. Some teenagers might have a really good life but not really be doing much exercise, or might have just started on the sexual relationship side of life. In a sense, kids could use this as a reminder. We get taught these things in school maybe once, so it’s always good to hear them again. There are always ways to better yourself and make better decisions.’
On Thinking Teenagers, you can watch videos in six different categories; Healthy Living, Sexual Awareness, Staying Safe, State of Mind, Getting on in Life and Being a Decent Person. Of the 42 short films that Vennard has created personally, there is a ranger of topics from advice on a balanced diet, to harder-hitting fare, such as his interview with mum Vicky Unwin, who lost her daughter after she took ketamine at a party. ‘That’s quite a sad one,’ Vennard said. ‘A lot of nice teenagers take these drugs because they’re party drugs, but as Vicky says, you don’t really know what you’re putting into your mouth, even if a friend has given it to you. That situation can happen to anyone. I think that’s one of the best videos.’
Vennard noted that his hope is parents and children watch the videos together, ‘Teenagers will probably be aware of things going on in their lives that their parents may or may not know about. For example, talking about sexual health is an important conversation that parents don’t have too often with their children. The more times we hear these important messages from different people the more likely we are to act positively on them.’ He added, ‘The message I want to stress is that there’s something for every teenager here. It’s about preventing problems from ever arising and encouraging more positive living.’
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