Washington Family Engagement Night Incorporates Mindfulness

Washington Primary School’s Family Engagement Night was an especially fun one for families as they learned how to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives.

The evening featured various learning and activity stations, including one that included breathing exercises, yoga and a fun read-aloud “to center minds and bodies,” Washington Principal Michelle Richards said. The Huntington UFSD physical education department sent dozens of yoga mats to Washington for the event. The cafeteria was converted to a yoga studio for the night.

“Learning mindfulness from an early age can help children focus, control their emotions and engage in the learning process, both inside and outside the classroom,” Dr. Richards said. “Families learned useful mindfulness exercises to take with them.”

Families also participated in fun, hands-on math and movement activities with their children. The interactive event combined learning with physical movement, helping children develop math skills in a playful engaging way.

“Physical movement helps reinforce math concept by engaging multiple senses, making learning more memorable and effective,” Dr. Richards said. “Together, families explored math concepts through games challenges, and exercises that make learning active and exciting.”

Washington families engaged in fun, interactive team building activities. “Family fusion is an interactive event that fosters critical thinking skills while working together to solve problems,” Dr. Richards said. “The goal is to bring parents and children together through communication, positive reinforcement and team work. These interactive and fun activities promote bonding between children and parents, while at the same time having fun.”