Why I Started Spark & Senses
I never set out to start a business. I set out to find something my toddlers would actually sit and play with.
What I found instead was a slightly obsessive love of sensory play, and eventually, Spark & Senses.
It started with two toddlers and a tray
I started setting up sensory trays for my two toddlers. At first, I just wanted to keep them busy for a few minutes. But then I started to notice what was really happening.
They would sit and play with a single tray for 45 minutes to an hour. That's a very long time in toddler years! And while they played, I could see things shifting. Their little fingers were getting stronger and more precise. Their focus and concentration were growing. They were making up stories, creating whole worlds out of textures and tiny treasures, with no instructions and no "right" way to play.
And the joy was something I wanted to keep seeing.
The problem: so much sourcing
Here's where it got frustrating. Every tray I wanted to put together meant:
- Five different online orders
- A trip to the craft store
- Hours of prep
I was looking online for inspo and everything looks amazing but then I'd find they were only selling a bag of dyed rice and I had to to find everything else and sometimes I didn't have a pirate ship or iceberg just lying around! I kept looking for a complete sensory kit that was substantial and had every single piece I needed, so I could just do the play instead of spending all my time running around gathering supplies and I just couldn't find anything that matched what I was doing at home.
As any busy mum knows, if something takes two hours to prepare, it tends to slide off the to-do list, no matter how much you believe in it.
So I made my own
So I did what any completely reasonable person would do: I created my own.
Every Spark & Senses kit is built around one question I kept asking myself: what would actually make my kids stop, sit down and play deeply?
The answer was always the same. The magic comes from a combination of:
- The right mix of textures to keep little hands curious
- A discovery element that gives children something to search for and find
- Something beautiful to look at, because children notice and love beauty
- Enough open-ended possibility that the story can go anywhere
And the best part? The fine motor development, the hand strength, the pincer grasp and the coordination all happen naturally on the side. Kids are far too busy playing to notice they're learning, and there's not a screen in sight.
Everything you need is in the box
That's the heart of Spark & Senses. No sourcing. No prep. No missing pieces. You open the box, set it out and watch what happens.
I built this for mums who already know this kind of play matters, but don't have two hours to pull it together.
My hope for you
I hope Spark & Senses gives your kids what it gave mine: deep, joyful, imaginative play that quietly builds the skills they'll need as they grow.
And I hope it gives you a few quiet minutes while they're at it because, as I mum - I know you deserve it!
Rachael x