When the blindfolds go on at Superminds Academy in NYC, the action begins. Led by trainers, parents begin to describe colors, objects, and patterns while children sort cards, organize objects, and work through sensory exercises. All without relying on sight. What starts as a playful challenge quickly becomes an exercise in trust, communication, and concentration.
The family-oriented workshop, where parents participate instead of ducking out for a coffee or chitchatting with other moms and dads, is centered on attention and shared problem-solving. Children navigate each task through spoken guidance, encouragement, and careful observation. And somewhere along the way, you’re working together to “see through a blindfold”.
What is Superminds Academy NYC?
Created by neuropsychologist Dr. Ann DeSollar and educator Elena Restrepo, Superminds Academy NYC is a 90-minute workshop where children move through a progression of guided sensory activities completed without sight. The sessions begin with simple 2D exercises using color and number cards before moving into 3D object work with cups, sorting games, and tactile challenges involving smaller objects.
As the workshops continue, children also practice fine motor tasks like arranging objects by hand and recreating drawings through verbal instruction. At every stage, parents are guiding their children alongside trained facilitators.
In other words, adults are just as involved in the process as the kids themselves. What begins as a sensory-based activity quickly turns into a shared experience built around trust, cooperation, and curiosity.
For many families, focus may be the reason they first walk into Superminds Academy. But the workshop’s biggest impact often happens in the quieter moments throughout the session.
As children work through blindfolded activities using spoken instructions, matching games, and object-based tasks, they’re also practicing patience, communication, and confidence in unfamiliar situations. For parents, it becomes an opportunity to slow down, guide closely, and watch their children approach challenges differently.
And somewhere between the color cards, concentration games, and moments of problem-solving, many families may leave feeling a little more connected than when they arrived.