Our Story

Hi, I’m Laura — mum of three, former early years teacher, and founder of Inspire My Play, along with my husband Neil.

Play has always been at the heart of our home. As a teacher, I saw first-hand how sensory and small-world play could spark imagination, build fine motor skills and connect children of all ages and abilities. When I began sharing play ideas online with an online community of parents, I realised there was a real need for a product designed specifically for sensory play — something practical, durable and safe for home use. And that’s how the Original PlayTRAY™ was born.

Sat on our sofa at home during the UK COVID-19 lockdown, Neil and I first sketched out the concept for the PlayTRAY . Juggling full-time jobs during the day along with homeschooling our three girls, we spent evenings and weekends bringing the idea to life. We believed in the PlayTRAY wholeheartedly, even putting our life savings into paying for the factory tool to turn our vision into reality. From there, we worked closely with parents, educators, family, and friends, whose feedback, ideas, and encouragement were invaluable. Together, we refined early product designs, tested prototypes, and crowdfunded our very first production run. It’s definitely been a collaborative rollercoaster of a journey!

Designed with children and parents in mind, the PlayTRAY features a perfectly sized play space, a lid to preserve play, and removable compartments that make setup and storage simple. It’s the first of its kind, thoughtfully created to make sensory play easier, tidier and more enjoyable for families and educators everywhere.

When Mrs Hinch, the much-loved British influencer known for her cleaning tips and home hacks, bought a PlayTRAY and shared it with her followers completely off her own back, sales soared overnight. Her raving review: "This tray is amazing! It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be 🤩. Removable compartments, non-slip feet. Lid with seal and stackable... Just perfect for all play and sensory ideas" helped introduce sensory play to thousands of new families, and the response was incredible.

Since our first production run in 2021, the PlayTRAY has reached homes, schools and therapy settings in more than 40 countries. Our community has grown into a global family of over one million parents and educators passionate about helping children imagine, explore and create through play. Beyond the PlayTRAY, which has received a number of prestigious awards and accolades, we’ve expanded our range to include hands-on silicone tools that empower children to develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, communication and confidence through sensory play. And as our product family grows, so does our commitment to making sensory play more accessible, meaningful and fun for children across the world.

Welcome to our sensory play community.

Our Mission

At Inspire My Play, our mission is simple:

To open up a world of sensory play for the benefit of children everywhere.

Sensory play is more than just a fun activity — it’s a crucial part of how children explore, understand and engage with the world around them. Through tactile, open-ended play, children develop fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities and emotional understanding. These hands-on experiences not only support learning in the moment, but lay the foundations for future cognitive, social and creative development.

Products with Purpose

Every Inspire My Play product starts with one question:

“How will this help children learn, grow and have fun through play?”

By designing with children in mind, we ensure our products are safe for little hands and built to withstand years of sensory adventures. We take pride in every detail — from the soft, smooth silicone of our accessories to premium packaging that ensures safe delivery to your home, classroom or therapy setting.

BPA, phthalate and PVC-free, each product is rigorously tested to meet international toy safety and quality standards, including:

  • UK/EU: UCKA, CE
  • USA: ASTM F963, FDA, CPSIA, CPSA (16CFR)
  • Canada: CHPA, SOR, CCPSA
  • Australia/New Zealand: ISO 8124 

Visit our Safety Information page for simple ways to make playing with the PlayTRAY safe, enjoyable and stress-free for you and your children.

Join in the Fun

We love seeing your PlayTRAY setups and hearing how our products have transformed playtime and learning.

If you haven’t already, sign up to our newsletter, follow us @inspiremyplay on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or join our PlayTRAY Community Facebook Group, for play ideas, product news and inspiration.

And don't forget to leave us a review — your feedback helps us improve our products and create with new ones!