Operating from a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) perspective the Sandtray Center's mission is twofold- (a) to promote, celebrate, and enrich literature by providing interactive literacy activities for students and (b) to promote the implementation of sandtrays in other settings by providing interactive, experiential training for professionals.

Children are unable to function in isolation, and their social-emotional wellbeing is a critical component of their academic success. Social play encourages both social-emotional and cognitive growth. Sandtray literacy groups encourage academic development, stimulate creativity, promote self-expression, and provide unique opportunities for positive social interactions. Sandtray groups allow professionals to recognize and honor varying developmental levels, backgrounds, and language skills within the group, enabling the children to participate, interact, and express thoughts and feelings, regardless of their differences. During interactive sandtray activities communication occurs with, or without, words. The Sandtray Center provides a unique, nonthreatening, and exciting venue in which children can strengthen connections with other children, while enhancing both social and cognitive development.

Limitations
All sessions at the Sandtray Center are designed to encourage academic growth, promote creative self-expression and improve social interactions with children ages 4-12.
The groups are not intended to take the place of counseling, psychological, or psychiatric services. For safety reasons, to participate children must be developmentally over the age of four and able to follow the teacher's directions. Participants have access to very small and/or fragile items which are not appropriate for very young children.