Interviewee:
Jason Stadtlander (He/Him/His)
In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative.
Sandmagination grew out of a desire to create a place where children could slow down, explore freely, and engage deeply with materials in a way that feels both creative and grounding. As parents and creative thinkers, we were drawn to sand because of its open-ended nature, it invites imagination, problem-solving, collaboration, and sensory exploration without prescribing outcomes.
The space is intentionally designed to feel calm, welcoming, and inclusive, with a focus on unstructured play rather than screens or scripted activities. Children are encouraged to experiment, build, observe, and invent at their own pace, while parents and caregivers can remain present and connected. Thoughtful design, accessibility, and sensory awareness are central to how the environment functions.
At its core, Sandmagination is about honoring play as a meaningful, creative act. We see it as both a community space and a creative environment, one that supports early learning, social connection, and imaginative thinking through shared experience.
Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative.
We are parents, creative professionals, and builders of experiences. Much of our work, both individually and together, has focused on creating environments where people feel safe to explore, ask questions, and be themselves. That shared perspective is what led us to create Sandmagination.
We are deeply interested in how physical spaces influence creativity, learning, and connection, especially for children. We believe play is not something children do to pass time, but a meaningful way they understand the world, solve problems, and express themselves. Sandmagination grew from our desire to create a place where that kind of play is valued, protected, and thoughtfully supported.
What motivates us most is seeing children fully engaged, experimenting, collaborating, and discovering their own capabilities, often in ways that surprise the adults around them. We are passionate about building inclusive, sensory-aware environments that honor curiosity and imagination, and about creating community spaces that feel welcoming to families of all backgrounds and abilities.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that had an impact on you?
Recently, we have been influenced by ongoing reading and listening around early childhood development, play theory, and how environments shape behavior and creativity. In particular, we are continually struck by research and stories that reinforce the idea that unstructured, hands-on play is essential to how children build confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
We are also deeply impacted by observing children in our own space. Watching how they interact with materials, negotiate with peers, and invent their own narratives often teaches us more than any single book or podcast. Those moments consistently reaffirm why we do this work and remind us that meaningful learning often happens quietly, through exploration rather than instruction.
What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you or your business?
People are often surprised to learn how intentionally quiet and unstructured Sandmagination is. Many expect a high-energy, noisy indoor play space, but the environment is deliberately designed to be calm, sensory-aware, and open-ended. There are no screens, no flashing lights during regular hours, and no prescribed way children are expected to play.
This intentional simplicity allows creativity and collaboration to emerge naturally. Children slow down, focus deeply, and often engage in sustained imaginative play for much longer than adults anticipate. That outcome is both surprising and affirming for us, and it continues to shape how we design and evolve the space.
What is Creative Collective?
Creative Collective delivers comprehensive business services – marketing promotion, technical assistance, business consulting, and advocacy at all levels – for Essex County entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators. We support the whole person, not just the business, through a collaborative community where members learn from each other, not just from us, because we know thriving businesses are built by thriving humans supporting each other. Learn more and join Creative Collective at www.creativecollectivema.com/join
