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 Journey
Initial PlayTRAY designs created
Inspire My Play Ltd founded
Prototype testing
PlayTRAY pre-orders launch
First production run & deliveries
Collapsible Funnels launch
Silicone accessories launch
Bricks & Blocks launch
Letter Sets & new UK office
Australian warehouse opens
Number Sets launch
Starter Tool Kit launch
Starter & Explorer Sets launch
Sensory Dough Tool Set launch
Ice Cream Play Set launch
Cupcake Play Set launch
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.
Discover the “7 Amazing Benefits of Sensory Play for Children” on our blog.
Products with Purpose
Every Inspire My Play product starts with one question: “How will this help children learn, grow and have fun through play?”
But we also ask ourselves how we can ensure every product we make is safe, durable and suitable for the little hands that use them, so they can enjoy years of sensory adventures. We put a huge amount of time, care and attention into selecting materials, developing and refining designs and thoroughly testing our products before they reach your home, classroom or therapy setting.
We choose premium, high-quality materials with the same care we would when choosing products for our own children. Our silicone accessories are made from food-grade silicone that’s BPA-free, phthalate-free and PVC-free, while every product is rigorously tested to meet the relevant toy safety and quality standards in the markets we sell to, including the UK, EU, USA, Australia and Canada.
From the soft, smooth silicone of our accessories, to the thoughtfully robust design of the PlayTRAY and our premium packaging, we consider every tiny detail. Because we want you to feel confident that when your child is playing, exploring and learning, they’re safety has been our number one priority.
For full details on our commitment to safety, authenticity and protection against counterfeit products, visit our Safety Information and Protecting our Brand pages.