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Teenage Mum, the game
by Ian Bogost March 23, 2005

Teenage MumTake a look at this TV spot for Teenage Mum created by the Belgian public health department to encourage contraceptive use and raise awareness about teenage pregnancy. It's really just a PSA (created by Belgian agency Duval Guillaume) advertising a fictitious game, but the fictitious game's design is just brilliant.

The player is invited to change diapers around the clock, study while your baby cries, and manage your relationship with friends while looking after your kid. What I love about this spot is that it completely nails what would go into a design for a teenage pregnancy game -- balancing life needs and wants with the responsibility of a baby. (thanks to Peter, via Games for Health)

Comments (57)
Take a look at this TV spot for Teenage Mum created by the Belgian public health department to encourage contraceptive use and raise awareness about teenage pregnancy....... The player is invited to change diapers around the clock, study while your ...

hey, i have just turned 14 and i live in england and i am expecting twins in 4mnths time.if you have any help you can send me please do.thanks

Megan Gabriel on April 23, 2005 10:17 PM

maybe they should actually think about making this game and let teens have a go at playing it in schools. i know from experience of playing games like "the sims" that even though its just a simulation they can be quite tiring to play, juggling all the neccesarys etc. The ad makes you think but the game could really make them think even more...

i am 13 and a half yrs old and i am expectin a baby in 5 months my boyfriend rushed me into sleeping and i jst want to say dont b rushed say no!!! if u arent ready

hes took off now and i am left with the concquences

hey i am 14 alomst 15 and recently i had a baby girl.i name her summer.she was born on may 5th but wasnt due till june 12th so she was 5weeks early.i love her so much and would never change a thing if i could go back in time.bein a teenage mum is amzin but it is really hard work my bf is still wit me,he is summers dad and i dnt no what i would hav done witout him.hes a babe.but a game is nothing like real life.it is way different.in a game u can stop things when u want but beina mum envolves gettin up in the middle of the night,not goin out wit your friends much and havin to feed and look after ur baby.its gr8 and as i sadi i would never change a thing but seriously this game is nothin like bein a real mum.love ya all xxx

hey im 15 and ive got a 6 week old baby boy (Cameron) n i love him 2 bits it can b hard but im coping well considering im doin it on my own, i do miss not bein able 2 go out wiv my m8s wenever i want but i certainly dont regret it! bein a mum is a full time job this game is nothin like the real thing its jst on a screen that can be switched off! whether 13 or 30 u can b a gd mum as long as ur commited it and have enough love 2 giv gd luck girls luv ya all lots x x x x

i wanne play tis gamle

i wanne play tis gamle

this would be a realy cool game. im 14 and i want a baby. evan though if i were to have 1 it would be different, i love kids heaps and cant wait untill im older so i can have them. i would just like to say how strong those girls are out there who are teen mums so many people call them names and look at them in discust and say they should abort them i would neva get an abortion. so u go girls u guys rock love bellxoxox

Yea hi i think the game would be cool but it is true that its not the same as being a real mum, there is a game that already exsits its called Babyz created by mindscape. i am 12 weeks pregnant but it was a huge decision to relize i waned to keep it, luckily my boyfriend has stayed with me and will be there wen the baby is born, but i dont think all you teens should go out and get pregnant right away your just crazy if u want kids that young, just think about things first.

is this game free?

i want to play this game

how do i play it?

Please make the game because i love kids!

Im thirteen and im expectin twins any day i know they are both girls and im naming them Mikaela and Madison arent they cute names?Lol!OH **** i think my water just broke thats why i wasnt feelin good i thought it was the burger i ate this mornin!This game would be fun but no one should get pregnant that young i wish i were older before i got pregnant!OH YA DONT DO DRUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Especially when your pregnant!

hey i am 16 and have 2 year old twins (Jack and Mahalia) and a 2 month old little girl (Camryn-Lee) and this game should be brought out to show that being a mum is a full time job, and it is even harder when you are trying to study. i would not change anything because i love my kids, but it is hard.

i think this games a great idea and it should be used in schools.

im 17 and my twins Olivia and Leo will be 2 in may. i love them to bits and will never regret having them but it is very tiring. as a result of being pregnant my parents kicked me out so now im living in a counsil house. their dad died in a car crash when they were onl 3 months old so its been a struggle, especially financialy. im studying for my a levels and am goin to uni to study law in september so this is proof that a baby doesnt screw up your life. however i dont have a social life so i go out hardley ever with my mates.

this game even though its fictional might help girls realise how much hard work it is, even if the rewards are huge.

look after yourselves mums, our kids are doing good and we're just as capable as older mums.

take carexxx

I am 16 and i am expecting my first child in 3 months, and to read what some of you have wrote on this webstie is ridiculous. I respect young mums that are going through what i will be going through but to all those other people talking about making a game as you are 14 and are wanting a baby grow up and realise that a baby aint a game its a life.

I just wanted to reply to all these teen mums on here. Im 19 and live in Australia. I have a heart for teen mums and run a young mum support group/ministry in my area giving mums the love they need. I am also the project manager and founder of a community project that will open an assissted accomodation center for homeless teen mums in my community in around 2009.

I too have had a strong desire to have children young. I used to dream about being a teen mum but I have held myself back because I know I want the best for my baby and I cant provide for a child, while I am studying and not working too much. The latest stats have shown that it costs around $800,000 (AU dollars) to raise a child from birth to 18 and that is just the nessecities!

Even though I support teen mums 100% I know alot of them went into having kids and some even planned to have kids as teens but now really regret that decision, as much as they love their children.

Those who wrote on these boards that they wanted a baby at 14 - my message is to wait, enjoy your teenage years cos when you have a baby you are tied down and have alot of responsibility. Most of my teen mums loose all their friends, cos they have a baby. Think about the good and bad sides, look at your finaces, support and living arrangments and then make the decision whether it would be right for you and the baby.

There is alot of people out there who give teen parents crud, a few teen mums are giving the rest a bad name and I dont think thats right. I believe that with support, dedication, finances and the right frame of mind teenagers can be good parents.

This sounds like a very good game. A part of our project is to run programs that help teens see just how hard it is to be a teen mum - by mentoring by teen mums living at the homeless house.

Good on you for creating this game!

Hi im 17 and have a daughter named Kylie.Kylie is 2 and a half years old.I just wanted to say this game would be fun and cool but nothing like being a real mom.I do think you should make it to show that its challenging to raise a child while trying to study and keep a good social life.I know its hard but you dont have to be rude a bout it if you dont have nothin nice to write dont write it (sam) if a young kid wants the game to be made let the kid say it.Its better then going to get knocked up!When i was 11, 12, 13 and 14 i wanted a kid too!even though i had a kid young doest mean im a screw up!I have a kid a job a house and a boyfriend and im going to college!Im just fine!

Young and want a baby? Thought about working in childcare? Im a young mum of 2 - boy 2yrs, girl 6mths and want teenage girls to realise the reality of bringing up a baby. I love my children 100% but now realise that if i was an older mother with an already established career i could offer them a lot more. Yes love counts for a lot but the reality is that as a parent you are truely responsible for your child. If you love babies/children so much then have a career in childcare. Dont have children until you are willing to be selfless, and if your friends rate 'maturity' with having underage sex and having a baby then they are simply childish. Im not saying a teenage mum cant be a good mum but just think long-term of what a baby means REMEMBER its 18yrs+ NOT 18mths!

Young and want a baby? Thought about working in childcare? Im a young mum of 2 - boy 2yrs, girl 6mths and want teenage girls to realise the reality of bringing up a baby. I love my children 100% but now realise that if i was an older mother with an already established career i could offer them a lot more. Yes love counts for a lot but the reality is that as a parent you are truely responsible for your child. If you love babies/children so much then have a career in childcare. Dont have children until you are willing to be selfless, and if your friends rate 'maturity' with having underage sex and having a baby then they are simply childish. Im not saying a teenage mum cant be a good mum but just think long-term of what a baby means REMEMBER its 18yrs+ NOT 18mths!

I am 14 and have twins, let me tell you it's hard work. I don't think it's right for young people like me to be getting pregnant but i have the hight grades in my class and still have time to look after my babies with the help of my mum. I also don't except benifits i work partime. It's my fault i got pregnant and I wont be doing it again. My boyfriend is still with me and we definately want to get married when we can. By the way my babies are 6 months old and their names are Milly and lilly

I have been reading what you poor girls been writin, and i am ****ing scared cuz i'm excpecting twins, i am only 13 and their due in 1 month or less. I got kiked outt my skool so now my mum is lookin for anotha one for me so i gotta leav all my m8s behind...unfair. The boy I am having the baby with is really gd lookin but he bin tellin evry one that im pregnant and i'd like some privacy, but he aint the one dat gott look after it its always the mother, but i'll survive.

i'm 18 and have 3 kids alreay.

A boy who's 5 called Jamie.

A girl who's 3 called Natalie.

and a boy who's newborn called Leo. I had Jamie when i was 13, with a boy called Romeo. I had Natalie when i Was 15, with a boy called Josh, and I just had Leo with a boy called Tyrone. My mum don't speak to me andymore, but I am trying to work on our relationship. It's tough being a single mum and trying to raise 3 kids. I was planning to go to uni, but i can't becuase i can't afford people to babysit my children. I am ashamed of myself, and if you are a young person reading this, don't have a baby young it does mess your life up.

I am 13 and excpecting a baby girl in 2 months. The boy I am having my baby with has took off. It's so unfair and I am left with the consequences. My mum said I have no life now, but My sister was 13 when she had her first baby, and she made it look easy, so I thought it would be the same for me. Older people look at me, and make faces but I just ignore them and try to avod going out. I know what every one thinks of me at school, but luckily I am aloud to go back to school after the babies birth. It's been pretty fun choosing baby names, and i am choosing 1 of my 3 favourites: Kayla, Summer, or Alisha.

hey im alisha, v kl name btw i suggest you use it laila, im 13, i really want a kid, but i do know that im too young, i know my mum would support me we talk about it alot, she is about to have a baby so im hoping that, tht might keep me from having a baby for a while...but i know that i have the commitement to be a mother i have helped my mum with all 6 of my bros an siss i no wat its like. I think that all teen mums are amazing,never think any less of yourselves. Hu knows wats goin to happen in a few years for me... xx

we have just started up a young mums support group in Thornton Heath, It runs on a thursday 10am till 12pm. Our aim is to offer advice and support to mums up to the age of about 21. We are alos planning to run parenting workshops and get health care professionals in to give talks.

the address is;

the healthy living centre,

thornton heath leisure centre,

80-100 high street,

thornton heath,

CR7 8LF.

FOR MORE INFO PHONE THE HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE ON 0208 683 700.

OR CONTACT ME THROUGH THIS.

clare hudson on August 3, 2006 12:37 PM

Hi my name is Shawna and im 15 and expecting twins!Also when i was 12 i had a baby girl named Kya.I dont have a boy friend cause he ran off when he found out i was pregnant again with twins.My mom is very supportive but kind of dissapointed in me.I do think making this game would be helpful to young teens or kids that already want kids.Its very hard but i love it!I now regret being so young but i cant do anything now!

Im 16 and i think im pregnant. I am waiting to see if I come on my period or not. I have wanted a baby for the past year and my boyfriend is 20 and wants one too. Sometimes I worry that if I have one it will stop me from doing my Alevels but i have heard of girls that have done both. What does everyone think?

I m 13 and want a baby real bad i luv kids more than ne thing i am waiting tho so i can accomplish my goals so i can give my kids more than if i had them now ... i support all teen mums

hi thre..i like this games i just found it in youtube thoug i dont hav a baby but i love to play this game,,is this free?and how to play this one..please help me and send it please to my email add...algene_uy@yahoo.com

thanks and more power..

Hey There , i am very interested in this game it looks great , i have been wanting a baby for a while now , am 14 . However i was raped as a child and whenever i start to get intimate with my boyfriend i start getting flashbacks and have to stop. Any ideas ? email me macys_new-york@Hotmail.com.

hi im 14 an think im pregnant im just to scared to take a test i am 9 days l8 and normally run like clockwork ive looked after kids all my life an look after my mum as she physiclly disabled i have allready been pregnant once and lost it so worried if it could be a reacuring thing wat ya think? and was wonderin if any girls out there could give me a hand on where to find cheap pregnancy test please email me on jamie_22_22@msn.com

Hi again ladies,

Just wanted to let you know about a campaign I am managing... its called Respect Young Mums - Campaign for Awareness.

You can add us to your myspace at http://www.myspace.com/respectyoungmums and get the link to our website there.

It is only new, launched at the beginning of this week but get behind us and give young mothers a voice!

Hi again ladies,

Just wanted to let you know about a campaign I am managing... its called Respect Young Mums - Campaign for Awareness.

You can add us to your myspace at http://www.myspace.com/respectyoungmums and get the link to our website there.

It is only new, launched at the beginning of this week but get behind us and give young mothers a voice!

Hi again ladies,

Just wanted to let you know about a campaign I am managing... its called Respect Young Mums - Campaign for Awareness.

You can add us to your myspace at http://www.myspace.com/respectyoungmums and get the link to our website there.

It is only new, launched at the beginning of this week but get behind us and give young mothers a voice!

Hi, I am a 12 year old girl who really want a baby. But when I think about if I was pregnant, I think that my mum would be so disappointed in me. WHat should I do??

please can i play that game on the front cover of the website that is a babys picture i would like to play that please Emma

please can i play that game on the front cover of the website that is a babys picture i would like to play that please Emma

please can i play that game on the front cover of the website that is a babys picture i would like to play that please Emma

hey girls .... im lauren... 16 ... ( seventeen soon!!) sum peeps thinks its clever 2 get pregnant so young and sum think its stupid.... i dont think its n e. you no your self when u r ready to have a baby... its not gonna b easy .. but what is ?? be cumin a mum is bound 2 b hard .. you just godda take it step by step.. but when u have your baby all the love is there just u n your baby! sure sum times you cant or wont b able 2 cope but even mums that are like 25 - 30 cant it dont make n e difference what age u are .. and even if ya dad ant there girls and you really want him to be its him missing out not u.. its your baby .. he was just the sperm doner! ( true?) lol! n e ways gd look to ya all! hope ya baby.. or babies all are ok and grow up well! ... xx lauren x x .. add me n e time 4 a chat! .... dawson777@msn.com .. luv 2 all! x

i am 12 years old and i was watchin britains youngers moms and i reli want a baby i have a little sister and i looked after here all the time and i still do when i go 2 my dads but i reli wont a baby of my own but i dont want to hav sex and i have been ill and on the pill now and i wont a baby while i no i can please can you help me please !!!!!!

im 13 years old and i hav a baby girl (chelle) who is 1 mouth now. i don't regret having her but i must admit its hard work with school n everthing but it really good having my own responibility. so all u young moms dnt giv up 2 soon x x x

hi im 14 and i support all teen mums that acually love and care 4 der babys i wod love to have 1 now but its easier to have a stable life so getting a career is also important but i just cant wait 2 ave a baby and wen dat day comes itll b great so think first girls

hi im 14 and i support all teen mums that acually love and care 4 der babys i wod love to have 1 now but its easier to have a stable life so getting a career is also important but i just cant wait 2 ave a baby and wen dat day comes itll b great so think first girls

What in the world is The Game, what game is cool? Nothing in this world is a game when it comes to raising a baby and being young. I understand once you have something you wouldn't change anything for the world but to bring a baby into this world at such a younf age is not always a smart thing. Make wise decisions...

What in the world is The Game, what game is cool? Nothing in this world is a game when it comes to raising a baby and being young. I understand once you have something you wouldn't change anything for the world but to bring a baby into this world at such a younf age is not always a smart thing. Make wise decisions...

What in the world is The Game, what game is cool? Nothing in this world is a game when it comes to raising a baby and being young. I understand once you have something you wouldn't change anything for the world but to bring a baby into this world at such a younf age is not always a smart thing. Make wise decisions...

What in the world is The Game, what game is cool? Nothing in this world is a game when it comes to raising a baby and being young. I understand once you have something you wouldn't change anything for the world but to bring a baby into this world at such a young age is not always a smart thing. Make wise decisions...

What in the world is The Game, what game is cool? Nothing in this world is a game when it comes to raising a baby and being young. I understand once you have something you wouldn't change anything for the world but to bring a baby into this world at such a young age is not always a smart thing. Make wise decisions...

some teen mums dont have a choice 6 months ago i was kidnapped and raped repeatedly he didnt use a condom and now im pregnant with twin girls and im only 15

some teen mums dont have a choice 6 months ago i was kidnapped and raped repeatedly he didnt use a condom and now im pregnant with twin girls and im only 15

WOW! i really don't what to say to you girls. im 17 and i was almost dad but my g/f lost the baby and it was very scary for me but i never had one thought in my mind of leaveing her with that child all alone. i just want to say good luck to all you girls out there and for the guys who left the girls while they were pregnant you guys are low lifes and are never going to amount to anything. And for the guys that stayed with you girls i want to thank you for standing up and acting like a man and taking care of your responsibility...

hi im 15 and i have one kid and i am expecting in 15 weeks because of my boyfriend but i was raped for 1st child i really didn't know what to do so i told my parents and they freaked but after a while they were ok and then my belly just kept getting bigger so i tried to keep away from the outside as much as possible.And know with my up coming kid with my boyfriend that bailed on me but shows half the time and i will hope he will see my baby's birth . till next time
PS the baby's keeps on kicking

Hey Guys,
Im 17 And Ive Just Had Twin Girls There Names Are Demi And Bethany
I Miss Hangin Out With My Friends But The Thing I Miss The MostIs Skool I No It Sounds Weird But I Do If Your 13 Or Higher I Say Wait Until Your Married Or Engaged Till You Even Start Talking Bout It Thank God My Boyfriend Soon To Be Husband Has Stayed With Me And Helping Out With The Girls We Now Have A House And Happy.

hiya i am 18 years old i wa 16 going on 17 when i found out that i was preganat and i was like i am keeping my baby and my mum and dad was like it is hard work and i wish i lisstend to them i love my son so much and i am glad he is her but if i could i was go back and have my life agen my son his now 16 months old now and it hard work yea babies are cut when there first born but that dont say like that u think haveing a child is a game but it ant it child u have to thack care off it i have read some off the comment on he and it sad to see 13 year old have childrn it kid haveing kid u need to live ur life and wat tel ur in ur 20 or sum think dont bring childrn it to the would when u are a child ur self just use some think dont get pregant cuz it ant a walk in the park it ur hol life tk care

heya, i think ths game would be really good. i am 11 and a half and i have two beautifull girls, Ella who is 18 months old and thea who is 4 months. i may be young but i live with my 17 yer old bf who is the fathe to my babies. and i belive it doesnt matterhow old you are you can still be a great mum and give your child everything. My babies were planned but still a huge shock. thanks guys

sorry guys i mean i was 11 and a half when i found out i was 4 months pregnant.
i was really happy but shocked when i found out i was pregnant because then me and my bf would have a propper family i am now 13 and a half years and love being a mum its the best thing ever. i still go to school and i am the top in my class but i have to work so hard. me and my soon to be fiancee live together in a lovely and homely house. i think this game would be good because it would show anyone who wants a baby that it changes you life (for the better) and is such hard work. ps i have just found out that i am 2 months pregnant. = )