Foxton Focus
Children at Foxton Kindergarten have been busy looking after their hearts through learning about healthy eating habits, growing their own vegetables in the kindy garden and making sure they get plenty of daily exercise to develop their physical skills.
To acknowledge all their hard work and commitment to creating a heart-healthy environment, Foxton Kindergarten received a Pa¯ Harakeke Healthy Heart Award this week.
Foxton Kindergarten signed up for the Heart Foundation’s Healthy Heart Award programme (Tohu Manawa Ora — Ko¯ hungahunga) in May last year and is currently the only early learning centre in the Foxton area to have earned the award.
Mariana Alletson, Heart Foundation nutrition adviser, said the teachers had done a great job of working together and actively engaging the families in the programme.
“Having the whole community on board will ensure the health promoting culture of the kindergarten will be sustainable. Establishing healthy habits in the early years provides children with a strong foundation for good health and well-being throughout their lives.”
Foxton Kindergarten head teacher Sheree Adamsare said taking part in the Healthy Heart Award was an extension of the work they had been doing to increase children’s and families’ knowledge about healthy foods and making healthy life choices.
“As a result, there has been noticeable improvements in the children’s lunches.
“We have also noticed healthier options of food being provided by families for social events that we have at kindergarten,” she said.
The Heart Foundation’s Healthy Heart Award is a free programme, partially funded by the Ministry of Health.