​On the 16^th of February, KiNZ Ōtara participated in the Big Heart Day to support the Heart Foundation. It’s a fun day when tamariki and kaiako come together to raise awareness about keeping our hearts healthy.

We have a long affiliation with the Heart Foundation as we first received the Pā-Harakeke (gold) level of the Healthy Heart Award in 2009 and we have maintained it (mostly) since then.

Part of the mahi we do to keep the Healthy Heart award is creating an environment that promotes healthy choices and being advocates of physical movement. With this in mind we closed the gate to our carpark and tamariki rode the bikes and ezy-rollers around it. Tamariki loved the extra space to manoeuvre the bikes and ride faster than usual. Kaiako showed them how to check their heartbeat before the physical activity then again after the activity and to notice the difference.

Another activity was to join in skipping together, which several tamariki have been practicing over a period of time and become quite accomplished. Learning about the importance of fruit and vegetables is part of our regular planning and this includes artwork and using resources from the Heart Foundation.

A Big Heart Day would not be complete without a healthy lunch. Tamariki enjoyed nutritious, healthy sandwiches for lunch including tomatoes grown in our garden. Recently we have been learning about Ngā Atua (Māori Gods) and we have a carving of Rongo-mā-Tāne in our garden. He has been looking over our vegetables as the God of cultivated kai.

The Heart Foundation has become a part of our KiNZ Ōtara community and we love supporting their special days to bring attention to keeping our hearts healthy.