Millburn-Short Hills Magazine Holiday 2020 | Page 22

small world

“ MY JOB ALLOWS ME TO BE CREATIVE , AND IT ’ S REWARDING TO SEE MY KIDS DO BETTER AND FLOURISH .” MARINA SHARFSHTEYN

1

THEY
CAME TO THE U . S . AS
REFUGEES Sharfshteyn and
Grushin ’ s families fled the Soviet Union in the early ’ 90s to escape anti-Semitism and the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion .

2

THEY
BOTH HAVE THERAPEUTIC
BACKGROUNDS Both women are
employed by the New York City public school system , Sharfshteyn as an occupational therapist and Grushin as a speech therapist . Sharfshteyn has had clients from preschool age to adults , and now works with students in middle school . “ My job allows me to be creative , and it ’ s rewarding to see my kids do better and flourish ,” she says .
Grushin has worked with kids from the time they were newborns to students in middle school , and currently is focused on improving the social skills of high-functioning autistic students .

3

THEIR
BUSINESSHAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR FIVE YEARS It was
more than five years ago , Sharfshteyn says , that she came to her cousin with the proposal to open a multicultural play space . “ We didn ’ t have it completely ironed out ,” she says .“ We thought kids could make crafts as souvenirs , and then it evolved from there .” Bigger spaces would allow them to have aplay area and birthday parties , and the concept continued to evolve until two years ago , when , for the first time , they saw the property where they would set up their business . The plan was to open in April 2020 .“ We put that on pause ,” says Grushin .
But when Governor Murphy allowed businesses to open up at 25 % capacity , she says , they knew they had to act . “ We were ready , though we knew it wouldn ’ t be easy ,” she says .

4THEY OFFER MULTIPLE OPTIONS TO KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS

Exceptional Explorers ’ main space features aclimbing jungle , slide , monkey bars , fire pole , aLego area and other play options found at indoor playgrounds . Asmall toddler area houses apeg board , blocks and other age-appropriate play items . Classrooms where the cultural projects are created are separate from the play area . Alounge area with tables and seating can be aworkspace where laptop-carrying parents can linger during their kids ’ free play time and 45-minute classes .
Drop-off remote learning support in half- and full-day sessions isalso offered , and Sharfshteyn and Grushin are exploring the possibility ofusing the space for yoga , music sessions , and Mommy & Me-style classes where the two can discuss developmental milestones .

5THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF

EUROPEAN PLAY OPTIONS INFORMED THEIR DESIGN “ We had to look outside the US . to design the partition wall separating the toddler area ,” says Grushin . “ In Europe , where indoor playgrounds have been around for longer , there ’ savariety of equipment and toys available .” Their wall , she says , is made of customizable segments with different textures and shapes that can be pressed , pulled and squeezed .

6

THEY
PRIORITIZE BEING SAFE FROM COVID-19 “ Being a germaphobe
myself , I was always cautious with indoor playgrounds ,” says Grushin . “ We want people to think ‘ This place is immaculate .’” The renovated play space has a new HVAC system with portable HEPA air-purifying filters . In the classrooms , where six students are allowed at a time , plexiglass dividers separate kids . The cleaning staff wipes down high-touch surfaces and replaces toys for a halfhour following hour-and-a-half-long play sessions that are limited to 12 children at a time .
KIDS : COURTESY OF JEFFREY ROSENBERG
20 HOLIDAY 2020 MILLBURN & SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE