DIY Glitter Tile Kits will be available for purchase soon as well. Jennifer’s business, Genius Gems, offers a Design Bar where customers can create their customized Glitter Tile that sticks to any brand of magnetic tiles. Having children with their friends and families working together to create something special is very social and rewarding on many levels. For example, many people can gather to build a massive castle or other large structures. And lastly, magnetic tiles can be very social. When people see their heritage and culture represented, they feel comfortable and seen and can build a connection with our space. Also, diversity is very important to us, whether through our staff or the activities that can be done. Another difference is that Genius Gems is open-ended and offers a different experience each visit, which is why our average members are here 7 or 8 times a month. What makes Genius Gems special? We work hard to create a space of interest to all ages, not just young kids–it’s not uncommon to see a four-year-old playing side by side with their older siblings and their grandparents who are enjoying themselves, too. Genius Gems has developed a Robot World for Ozobot © using Genius Gems-designed Robot Tracks, 3D printed parts with embedded sensors, and more. There are many different STEM activities to explore there. Magnetic Tiles are just one aspect of Jennifer’s business. Also, I ensure our teachers are excited about STEM and can foster that passion in all who come to Genius Gems. The “real world” teaching experience taught me classroom management and conflict resolution, both critical in running this business and crucial to creating a safe and calm learning environment. I taught middle school in NYC’s public school system and got my principal certification from Columbia University. Was there anything in your career background that’s proven helpful in this business? I’m an educator through training and experience. Our business has been so well received that our second location (in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood) should be open by the end of 2022. We continued to roll out others, including glitter and candy tiles, slime kits, and dreidel kits, to appeal to a broader audience. Soon after opening, we launched our first product, Robot Tracks. Initially, we thought we’d open in the city, but after we moved to West Orange, we recalibrated the idea to work for New Jersey and opened our Millburn space in 2018. Marc had this dream of a business related to magnetic tiles, and with my educational background, we brainstormed and came up with the idea of a hybrid of a magnetic tiles wonderland mixed with STEM. Magnetic tiles always made the list because the boys (and my husband!) loved them and could “play”‘ with them for hours. We also knew we had to be very selective in what we brought in so our house wouldn’t be too cluttered. Why did you launch Genius Gems? As a young family living in an NYC apartment with two very active boys, we were always searching for things to do that focused on play and intellect. It has a diverse community, a beautiful natural setting, and is close to the city-all things important to us. We moved from Manhattan to Llewellyn Park in West Orange in 2015. My husband, Marc, and I have been married for 12 years and have three children, ages 11, 9, and 4. Tell us a little bit about your family and background. We caught up with this West Orange mom of three to find out how she and her husband work together, the homemade activities you can do to get your kids excited about STEM, and the Montclair-based vegan restaurant her family calls their “go-to.” ( featured image: Melissa Spector Photography) And it’s become such a success that Jennifer created Genius Gems products and will open a second location in NYC by the end of the year. Fast forward, and that idea morphed into Genius Gems, an indoor play space in Millburn that blends play and intellect with magnetic tiles in all shapes and sizes where no two experiences are alike, and kids come back again and again for things like 3-D printing, coding, Robot World, and much more. Little did this former teacher know then how life-changing those tiles would be when she had an idea to use them to create a jewel-toned wonderland incorporating STEM principles so kids (and adults) could experience learning and fun with each visit. When Jennifer Romanoff, our NJ Mompreneur of the Week, was looking for an activity for her two boys that combined play and learning but didn’t take up much space, she introduced her kids to magnetic tiles-those vibrant geometric shapes that cling to each other magnetically using the imagination as a guide.
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