Introduction

TeenBook is a pioneering initiative in partnership with Development Consortium (DC), designed as India's first comprehensive digital resource hub for teenagers, parents, and educators. It aims to bring a mindset shift towards supporting our children with their emotional, social and behavioural health well-being and not just a single-minded focus on their academic or professional excellence.

It provides knowledge and information to help learn the most important life skills that can go a long way in helping children have a more affirmative approach towards their own identity and understanding healthy choices, managing emotions, navigate relationships, understanding consent, working effectively with others and taking responsible decisions.

Background

Recognizing the complexities adolescents face today—from navigating social interactions to managing emotional health—TeenBook was created in 2020 to offer guidance and support. These challenges often include bullying, self-esteem issues, and the pressures of academic and social expectations. TeenBook addresses these issues by equipping adolescents with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and foster a supportive environment for their growth.

Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of TeenBook is to build a foundation of knowledge, skills, and behaviors that will enable adolescents to make responsible choices as they transition into adulthood. Objectives include:

Enhancing understanding of healthy choices, managing emotions, and navigating relationships.
Educating on consent and cooperation, promoting gender equality, and fostering respect for diversity.
Strengthening communication between adolescents and their parents or educators.

Implementation Strategy

All our material is carefully designed for parents and educators and aims to provide information and guidance to strengthen the quality of their communication and relationships with adolescents. It complements Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) initiative of the Government of India.

relationships with adolescents. It complements Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) initiative of the Government of India.

We design and offer need-based training to parents, educators, institutes and communities. The training and workshops will help educators/teachers (both pre-service and in-service), understand and implement communication and instructional designs within their lesson plans with the ultimate goal of nurturing adolescents’ social, emotional, and behavioural learning.

TeenBook employs a holistic approach to life skills education, utilizing:

Digital Resources: Offering a range of materials online that cover critical topics such as mental health, peer pressure, and safe internet practices.
Engagement Activities: Conducting interactive sessions and competitions to engage students creatively and promote awareness on sensitive issues like gender violence and discrimination.
Parent and Educator Support: Providing resources specifically designed for adults to help them guide adolescents through challenging times effectively.

Impact and Achievements

Since its inception, TeenBook has:

Developed a platform that serves as a safe space for learning and discussion among its target audience.
Successfully engaged a diverse group of adolescents, parents, and educators through tailored content and resources.
Received positive feedback for its role in enhancing the dialogue around crucial life skills and personal development.
Members of the TeenBook Advisory Board participate in the Global Forum for Adolescents organised by PMNCH, WHO’s maternal, children and adolescent health network.

Future plans

To integrate this learning with other subjects in education, TeenBook will offer a package of services to schools. TeenBook has also devised workshops for parents to help them understand how best to support their children and create an environment of trust, respect and support. The training will also offer knowhow and practical skills that would enable parents to have difficult conversations with their children.

TeenBook will also offer specially designed training to adolescents and teenagers to help develop their competencies in all aspects of life skills learning. These workshops will be fun and engaging and help teens understand and work through specific issues that might be bothering them now or develop capacities to deal with pressure they might face in the future.

TeenBook aims to expand its reach and deepen its impact by continuously updating its content and strategies to meet the evolving needs of adolescents. Future plans include more focused modules on emerging topics relevant to today's youth and expanding the network of contributors and experts.