The symposium is intended, among others, for general practitioners, GP practice assistants, occupational physicians, psychologists, educational psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and exercise therapists C/M, as well as employees in youth social work. But, of course, people from the education sector are also very welcome.

Charge Your Brainzzz

One of the speakers during the plenary sessions is Koko Beers, project leader and spokesperson for the Brain Foundation. She will speak about the Charge Your Brainzzz educational package. Through this package, Glos Educatief, Chrono@work and the Brain Foundation aim to inform young people about the importance of sleep for healthy brains and encourage them to improve their own sleeping habits. Read more here about the educational package via the website of www.gezondeleefstijlopschool.nl. You can use it free of charge; click here to do so.

The chair of the symposium is Francis Lanen-de Haan, a psychosomatic exercise therapist and founder of Sleep Exercise Therapy. For the full programme, click here.

JOGG and sleep

JOGG (Youth at a Healthy Weight) has also considered sleep important for many years. In a message published in connection with World Sleep Day (the last Friday before spring begins; in 2020, this was Friday, 13 March), JOGG points out that various studies show that insufficient sleep duration and reduced sleep quality may be at the root of an increased BMI. A shortened sleep duration causes an increased amount of ghrelin to be released. This hormone is a hunger hormone that causes the body to crave carbohydrates and sugars. As a result, children may eat more (calorie-dense) food, which is not beneficial for their weight.

Three tips from JOGG

JOGG also gives parents three tips to help promote sufficient sleep:

  • A fixed bedtime for children and young people – A fixed sleep routine for children and young people can have a particularly major impact on their health. It has a positive influence on the biorhythm and helps prevent daytime sleepiness.
  • Less use of laptops, tablets and smartphones in the evening – The blue light from these devices stimulates the brain and makes it more difficult for children to fall asleep.
  • Sufficient sunlight and daylight combined with physical activity – Children and young people who get enough exercise and natural sunlight and daylight during the day can fall asleep and stay asleep more easily. This is because it has a positive influence on a child’s biorhythm.

You can register for the symposium here.