THE LITTLE SENSORY BOX

Tinker Tray Play Sells a Wide Range of Engaging Educational toys and resources with a Focus on Wooden and Natural Play in the Early Years. Words: Anna Welch (Founder)

Starting my own business has been such an amazing adventure. I absolutely love my little shop and I love knowing that the toys and resources I have chosen are enjoyed by others too.

I am mummy to two wonderful little girls; Lucie aged 2 and Sophie aged 4. I trained as a childminder during my last maternity leave so I could be home more whilst they were little.

I’d collected all the resources I would need including a mountain of loose parts, I created story sacks and rhyme time bags and spent hours hunting online for the right bits and pieces to create tinker trays and treasure baskets. The photos of our play were used on social media to create a waiting list for my childminding business but I had such amazing feedback that I decided to open an Etsy shop to sell them to others and that is how Tinker Tray Play began in August 2018.

I now have my own website with

over 1000 products, subscription boxes and I’ve recently added a loyalty points scheme as a

thank you to my fantastic customers. I love wooden toys and natural resources and I have a passion for play. A firm believer in the power of open-ended play, it is so important to me that the resources I sell are engaging and educational as well as being super fun.

I’m excited to be adding some imaginative and inspirational new resources to the website this year and I have a long list of brands I would love to have on the website. I’m planning some new story sacks and a couple of new subscriptions will be coming soon too!

Juggling work and family life can be tough. I use weekends and evenings as much as I can and while I no longer childmind, I do work 3 days a week as a project planner and the girls are still so little. Life is super busy, but when you love what you do you never work a day in your life. Happy tinkering!

Take a look at the wonderfully playful range at tinkertrayplay.co.uk

Follow on Instagram and Facebook @tinkertrayplay

Maggie rose clothing Bespoke, Personalised, Traditional Children’s Clothing. Handmade In Somerset.