Leika is Scandinavian for ‘play’ - this business adventure holds meaning to our heritage in Iceland and the amazing sensory experience we had while traveling there with family. Travel has always been, and continues to be, a passion of mine. I feel so connected and peaceful when traveling - especially when in nature. It was on one of our family trips to Iceland to trace our family roots that truly sparked the magic of sensory play. At the time, my daughter, Emery, was 2.5 years old. We had long day-trips planned each day to experience all the wonders of Iceland. Each day our family was astounded by Emery’s pure joy and engagement in the experience. A new sensory experience awaited around every corner - the heavy black rocks from the black sand beach, the cool water and rushing sounds of waterfalls and rivers, the crunch of the glaciers beneath their feet, and the peaceful warm sensations of the hot springs. It was a total sensory experience that kept her intrigued and playful.   

Then in 2020 when the pandemic sent educators home to teach virtually, we had to circle back to find ways to keep kids intrigued and playful. It was then that I researched the benefits of sensory play and experimented with Emery and my son, Sunden, who was 1.5 years old.  In order for my husband, Shawn, and I to focus on our new-found virtual obligations, we had to restructure what play looked like in our home. Sensory play built more independence and child-led play. It regulated their bodies and emotions and allowed them to have new experiences when the world was on pause (and in chaos) on the outside.

These experiences brought us to Leika Sensory Creations - the love of learning, youth, woodworking, and sensory play all coming together to invite a new kind of play experience for families to enjoy.