Our Story
The Sensory Express began in the middle of real life — the kind where you’re running on love, determination, and whatever sleep you can find.
I’ve been a single parent since my daughter was six months old, and with the help of my wonderfully loud, loving family, I threw myself into giving her the richest start I could. By four months old she’d already been to baby sensory, storytelling sessions, singalongs, play centres… and by six months she was confidently splashing her way through swimming lessons.
One thing I was absolutely firm about: no screens. I wanted real, hands‑on, one‑to‑one interaction — textures, sounds, movement, imagination. But finding toys that weren’t loud, flashy, or battery‑powered was surprisingly difficult. I wanted something that held her attention, encouraged creativity, and could be played with in different ways.
Then came the moment everything clicked. One night, lying next to my eight‑month‑old waiting for her to drift off, the idea arrived — a toy that brought sensory experiences to the child, without overstimulation. A cargo train delivering sensory play.
I jumped out of bed, grabbed the nearest paper (which was absolutely the wrong paper), and started sketching. The next morning I bought grid paper and drew it properly. I knew I wanted the words “sensory” and “train,” and my brother‑in‑law casually said, “What about The Sensory Express?” And just like that, the name had its magic.
My family liked the idea but didn’t quite see it, so I decided to show them. When my daughter turned two, we built the first prototype out of cereal boxes — she painted, glued, and proudly inspected every piece. That cardboard creation became the blueprint for the wooden toy train we have today.
And that’s how The Sensory Express was born: a tired mum, a curious toddler, a stack of cereal boxes, and an idea that refused to stay in my head.