Bernard Sleijster blog

Young children are the most vulnerable sector of our society. They can’t tell the different between marketing and entertainment, and sadly many companies use that to their advantage. Why do advertisers target children? What do you call a consumer who wants to buy everything you have, doesn’t care what it costs and is less than five feet tall? A child. “Get them hooked while they’re young” is the motto of many companies worldwide. If you can get a child addicted to a product before they reach puberty, it is sure to stay with them throughout their life. According to the YTV Kids and Tweens Report, kids influence: • Breakfast choices (97% of the time) and lunch choices (95% of the time). • Where to go for casual family meals (98% of the time) (with 34% of kids always having a say on the choice of casual restaurant). • Clothing purchases (95% of the time). • Software purchases (76% of the time) and computer purchases (60% of the time). • Family entertainment choices (98% of th...

In our day to day lives, most of the focus goes to mental education when it comes to schooling children, with a small percentage, if any, going towards physical education. Personally, I grew up an amateur boxer and know first hand that sports and everything that comes with it, such as learning about nutrition, is vital for the healthy growth of an individual. So what benefits can come from playing sports? Sports makes us feel good about ourselves, both physically and mentally. Children begin to thrive in environments where sports are present. They make new friends, learn to overcome challenges and gain new skills (physical and mental), they learn how to play in a team or become team leader, learn how to play fair, become more confident and perhaps most important of all: they have fun. Children will also inevitably begin to learn about their physical bodies, its limits and capabilities. Nutrition plays a vital role in sports, and children who are exposed to physical educati...

Hello internet community! Berrel here, once again, just wanted to share with you my latest project and passion in life – the  Sleijster4Children  charity organisation. I’ve spent the last few years brewing this idea, and I am excited to finally tell you that it has come to life! I truly believe that for the world to become a healthier, safer and overall better place, we need to start with the education of our children. Below are some details about the charity: What is Sleijster4Children? Sleijster4Children is a non-profit organisation, set up by Bernardus J. Sleijster, that aims to help children in need, regardless of their age, gender, race, disability or behaviour. Sleijster believes that one small act of kindness could change the life course of an innocent and impressionable child and he set up this foundation because he believes that every person deserves a great start to life. What are Sleijster4Children’s goals? Growing up with a keen interest in boxin...

Adolescents in Latin America are now completing two more years on average than their parents’ generation. However despite this progress, there is still much to develop in the schooling department. About 30-40% of the youngest children (ages 4-5) do not go to school and out of the older kids who are enrolled into secondary school, only 66% actually come to classes. A calculation by UNESCO showed us that a few years ago, “In Latin America and the Caribbean, over 8 million people aged 15 to 24 have not even completed primary school and need alternative pathways to acquire basic skills for employment and prosperity. This is equivalent to almost one in twelve young people.” http://bjsleijster.com/child-education-in-latin-america/ Sports in schools Most schools do not have the resources to offer extracurricular activities. Sports are often organised by clubs, and even those are rare in Latin America. The child’s economic status plays a key role here, as families with relativel...