DIY
DIY Beach Sensory Bin
How do I use a sensory bin?
using only household objects. The
contents of a sensory bin may also vary by
theme. For example, some sensory bins
have a sports theme, a bird theme or a
fairy theme. The choice depends on what
you and your child like.

Involve your child in making the sensory
bin and explain each piece as you’re
putting it together. For our example, we
chose kinetic sand as a base, with buttons,
beads and small scrapbooking ornaments
as filler.

The purpose of a sensory
bin is to help kids develop
an understanding of
textures and feelings in
a stimulating, safe way.

You and your child can use a sensory
bin by moving around the objects inside
with your hands or a small tool like a
spoon. Talk to your children about what
they’re feeling, seeing and hearing. Does this
feel soft, squishy or fuzzy? Does it sound
like rain? What color is this? Engage them
when playing actively with the bin, but
remember to let them explore it on their
own, too.

Materials: How do I make a sensory bin?
• Tactile items (cotton balls, pompoms,
buttons, beads or erasers)
• A container (plastic with a tight-
fitting lid is best)
• A base (beans, rice, sand or slime
work well)
What you need to make your sensory bin
will depend on your child’s individual • Optional: Stickers to decorate the
tastes, but you can make a sensory bin outside of the bin
26 Washington FAMILY AUGUST 2022
Directions: Step 1: Clear an open and brightly lit area
like a kitchen table or island. Place all your
items in one spot on the surface.

Tip: If you anticipate having leftover small
pieces, get some Tupperware or other small
containers ready to keep any mess contained.

Step 2: Pour your filler into the container
you picked out for your sensory bin. Spread
the filler evenly with your hands or a spoon.

Step 3: Place your tactile items in one type
at a time. Talk about what they feel like as
you’re putting them in.

Tip: For older children, you can add small
seashells or dried starfish.

Step 4: Mix your bin thoroughly. Using your
hands or a spoon slowly mix the sensory bin
until there are no clumps of any one type of
item. Some items should be buried and only
visible from the sides; others may be poking
out at the surface.

Step 5: (Optional) After placing the lid on
the bin, allow your children to decorate
the outside of the bin as they please with
stickers! Stickers add a personal touch
and will give your child a sense of ownership
over the project.

Tip: Young children should always be super-
vised when using a sensory bin with small
pieces as these items can be a choking hazard.

When your child is done playing with the
sensory bin, simply fit the lid on tightly
and place it in a secure but visible spot for
future play. T
BINS: ZSV3207 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS; BRUSHSTROKE:
POPOVA ANNA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
C reate this fun sensory bin with your
kids. A sensory bin is a container
filled with objects that have differ-
ent sounds and textures for children to play
with and explore. The purpose of a sensory
bin is to help kids develop an understand-
ing of textures and feelings in a stimulating,
safe way. Sensory bins are often filled with
sand, slime, beans or rice as a base with
other objects mixed in. Sensory bins are rec-
ommended for children who are ages 3 and
older. Even adults can enjoy them!
Playing with sensory bins benefits
children in many ways. It relieves stress,
encourages creativity, improves fine motor
skills and helps children develop descriptive
language. BY HEATHER M. ROSS



PARENT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Jennifer Barnwell
BY ALEX KRUTCHIK
in downtown Washington (D.C.), and it was
manageable. I had moved down from New
York City, so I was used to the city life. And it
was OK with one child. But we ended up mov-
ing to Montgomery County, Maryland, in 2019,
and I wasn’t sure how it was going to be, just
because I felt like a city person. But it has been
fantastic for us. We’re very lucky in the posi-
tion that we’re in. We have so much more
room. It’s like all the cliches: We have a yard.

We have a bigger house, and we also have this
amazing community.

What challenges are there in
being a parent, especially when
you are so busy?
I think there are sacrifices and tradeoffs you
make. There are a few occasions where I’ll miss
something. My daughter had this amazing
parent event at preschool, and I couldn’t make
it to that because I was on a business trip.

Other times I’ve made tradeoffs where I’ve
pushed off some work so that I could get home
at a certain time. Once the kids are in bed, I’ll
reopen my laptop and work for a couple more
hours until 10 p.m.

It may not be every night, but it’s somewhat
frequent. With small children, there is a
very small window between dinnertime and
bedtime. I have made that conscious decision
ennifer Barnwell found a career path that combines her love for travel with her financial to come home sometime between 5 (p.m.)
and analytic skills. As president of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection since 2020, she gets and 6 p.m. so that I can see them before bed,
to create new memories and experiences while working with owners and operators of knowing that I still have a lot more to do.

independent hotels.

Curator, which was launched by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust that year, already has more than 90 What do you love most about
member properties since its launch.

being a parent?
You can often find Barnwell on the road, but she says it doesn’t compare to what— You can’t even imagine. I know it’s a cliche,
or whom—she has at home: a 5-year-old daughter and an 11-month-old son.

but there’s this love you feel for this little
person when they arrive. When they’re babies,
they are so cute and cuddly, and you want to
How do you balance your career important for me to be present for my husband take a million pictures of them. But it keeps
getting better and better.

while being a parent and raising and my kids.

You also can’t do it without having amazing
My little girl is turning into a real little
a family?
I tend to be an organized person. I’m really people to share the responsibility with and person, and she says the most hilarious
big on planning and just getting things done. rely on, whether that’s my husband—who is things sometimes. It shows me she’s really
I think that’s the key for me. I love my job, fantastic and definitely a partner in this—or growing up, but she’s also paying attention
to everything I say. I think the most
and I love working. It makes me a happier child care providers.

rewarding part is it enriches your life and
person. It definitely makes me a better
parent. Keeping that in mind, you have to What is it like to raise a family in brings a new dynamic to your life that
you didn’t expect, and you couldn’t have
figure everything else out so that you can the DMV?
be successful in your career. But it’s also We had our first child when we still lived prepared yourself for it. n
WashingtonFAMILY.com 27
DAVID STUCK
J