Sowing the Seeds of Health
- Created: Wednesday, 14 October 2015 22:57
Getting the ‘aiga (families) involved in the Healthy Heart Award and having their support for healthy changes at the ECE service was a priority
Specialising in Samoan language and culture, SEEDS (Samoana Early Education Development Services Ltd) are a collection of three early childhood education (ECE) services in Porirua.
Why they became involved in the Healthy Heart Award
SEEDS staff wanted children to develop good habits to prepare them for a longer and healthier life. Staff saw that some children were bringing unhealthy lunches and sugary drinks every day. They did not want to see children with just a meat pie for lunch. Getting the ‘aiga (families) involved in the Healthy Heart Award and having their support for healthy changes at the ECE service was a priority for staff. They wanted their children to:
• Eat more healthy food at SEEDS and at home
• Drink more water instead of sugary alternatives
• Have healthier lunches every day
What they did
Updated policies: This included statements about foods that were acceptable, and opportunities for physical activity.
Educated ‘aiga: The staff emphasised the importance of ‘aiga being involved. They displayed Heart Foundation resources in the check-in area, put messages in the weekly newsletters and talked to parents about healthy eating.
Lunchbox reminders sent home: ‘Aiga received a note when the food they provided did not meet the healthy food requirements. The notes helped ‘aiga understand what foods were appropriate for their children’s lunches.
Staff attended professional development: They learnt about healthy eating and how they could get children involved in physical activity.
Planning physical activity: SEEDS already provided children with a wide range of physical activities. But they put more emphasis on scheduling time for things like dancing to music.
Increasing healthy eating activities: The staff tried new approaches to teach children about healthy eating. For example, a vegetable garden was created and children were involved in the whole process, from gardening to harvesting and eating the produce.
The changes that happened
• Most ‘aiga supported the approach SEEDS took and understood why the changes were made
• Lunchboxes became healthier
• Some ‘aiga reported making changes to their food at home
• Children learned more about healthy food and physical activity
Looking ahead
Staff are now taking a different approach with ‘aiga. They are focusing on encouraging change rather than pushing for it. Staff know they will have to be persistent to keep the changes they have made and to continue improving the health of the children attending SEEDS.