Too grown-up for the kids’ aisle. Not quite ready for the adult one.

Why I started TeenmeUP.

There’s an age when your child starts asking for things you’ve never had to think about buying for them before.

A face wash of their own. A deodorant for their school bag. Something for their hair that a friend has been talking about.

The request sounds simple. Then you start looking.

Is this meant for their age? Do they actually need it? Are you choosing it because it suits them, or because it’s the one everyone seems to be using?

You can find plenty of products. Finding your way through them is another matter.

That gap is at the heart of why I started TeenmeUP.

Growing up doesn’t happen in one shopping trip

I’m a mother of two girls. I’m also the founder of TeenmeUP. When I think about who this platform is for, I think about both sides of that relationship: the parent trying to make a thoughtful choice, and the young person who wants a little more say in their own life.

A child doesn’t wake up one morning ready for everything in the adult aisle. Their needs change gradually. Their interests change too, sometimes much faster than we expect.

Something they loved a few months ago suddenly feels “too kiddish.” Something they’ve seen online feels exciting and grown-up. As a parent, you’re somewhere in the middle, trying to understand what has changed and what to do next.

That in-between stage deserves attention of its own.

“Is this right for my child?”

This is the question I wanted TeenmeUP to help parents work through.

It’s different from asking what’s popular or what’s on offer. It asks us to think about the person who will actually use the product: their age, their needs, their interests and how much guidance they still need.

Age is a useful starting point, but it isn’t the whole answer. Two children of the same age can have very different needs. And sometimes the most helpful answer is that they don’t need another product yet.

I don’t want parents to feel that growing up requires a long shopping list. I want the choices they do make to feel more considered and less confusing.

They want a say. We want to feel comfortable saying yes.

There’s another part of this that matters to me.

Our children are developing their own preferences. The fragrance they like. The way they wear their hair. The hobbies they want to try. What feels like a small purchase to us can feel like a chance to make a decision for themselves.

We should leave room for that.

But giving them a voice doesn’t mean leaving them to work everything out alone. We can ask what they like about something, look at it together and talk through whether it makes sense for them.

I want TeenmeUP to support those conversations. A place parents and young people can explore together, with guidance that helps them take the next step.

What I’m building with TeenmeUP

TeenmeUP is a growing-journey platform for ages 9 to 19, organised around Tweens, Teens and TeenZ.

The aim is to bring relevant products, useful guidance and discovery into one place, so parents have somewhere to begin as new needs come up.

That includes everyday care, but growing up is bigger than a bathroom shelf. It includes finding an interest, making something with your hands, discovering a game you love and spending time with people who let you be yourself.

There is room for all of that in the TeenmeUP journey.

We’re still building. As a founder, I want to listen closely to the questions parents ask and the things young people care about. Those conversations should shape what we offer and what we explain.

A little guidance goes a long way

I started TeenmeUP because I believe this stage deserves a place of its own.

Somewhere you can arrive with a question, even if you don’t yet know what you’re looking for. Somewhere that understands why a first face wash or a new interest can matter more than it appears to.

We won’t have every answer. But we can make it easier to start asking the right questions, together.

What’s the first thing your growing child asked for that made you think, “I need to look into this”? I’d love to hear.

— Geeta Kanhai Chhugani Founder, TeenmeUP