As a mom to two young boys and a family photographer here in Bend, Oregon, summer means shifting gears. While I would love to spend every day purely vacationing, peak family photo season falls during these warmer months. Managing a business while keeping little ones entertained is a busy, fun (and often) chaotic puzzle. Over the years, I’ve figured out how to carve out productive work blocks while keeping my kids happy (and still enjoying some quality time with them). Here are my top ten tips for occupying young children this summer in Central Oregon and still being able to get stuff done.

Little toes on 35mm film - messy summer backyard days.

#1 Toy rotation and book rotation

I’ve adopted a revised version of the Montessori methodology of toy rotation into our home to keep play fresh, fun, and age appropriate. The idea behind this method is that fewer toys to play with creates space for longer and deeper play with each toy.

Personally, I love this method because I find I can set up the kids to play by themselves for age-appropriate stretches of time. For my almost one-year-old, that’s about 15 minutes of independent play. For my almost six-year-old, I can usually get 45 minutes of independent playtime before he comes hunting for me. Those stretches of time are valuable to checking things off my to-do list.

Throughout the school year, I usually look at toys once a month or every other month to swap out. In the summer months, though, I usually rotate toys every 2-3 weeks. A bonus of toy rotation is that it helps keep living spaces tidier, and the home from feeling like a toy store vomited on the carpet. (Moms, you know what I mean…)

Pro tip: Toys have to be out of reach and out of sight for toy rotation to truly work.

Book rotation throughout the summer months also helps. It keeps books aligned with seasonal happenings and rotates favorites throughout the year. Plus, as a parent who reads the same books every single night (for a while), it is helpful for me, too, to put away the most-requested ones and get some fresh stories to read.

#2 Backyard or Sidewalk Art: chalk, art walls, and cornstarch paint

Whether you’ve got a backyard or a stretch of sidewalk in front of your home, art is an excellent activity to keep kids entertained during those long summer days. I especially love using art that’s easy to wash away with rain or a garden hose.

Non-toxic cornstarch paint is a great way to get creative with kids that still put everything into their mouths. I have a five-year age gap between my kids, so I need activities that will satisfy both of them. My oldest loves art, and my youngest is excited for every experience. This one is a win-win activity for us all!

Sidewalk chalk remains a favorite pastime in my household. I first introduced it to my oldest when he was close to two years old. We love to fill up a stretch of patio or sidewalk with chalk art, and then erase it for another day. As my son has gotten older, his explorations of chalk have changed a bit. In addition to drawing with it, he now also loves to crush some chalk into fine powder with rocks.

A few summers ago, my husband built an art wall for us out of wood and plexiglass (it is my favorite backyard staple). We use it to draw with chalk markers, draw on with bath crayons, paint with watercolors, and even build water paths with suction cup pieces (that came from a different water table toy). We first introduced the art wall at 3 years of age, and I am positive we will get many more summers out of it.

My oldest and me with the homemade art wall.

H2: #3 Sensory bins & skill tables

I stumbled across the idea of sensory bins when my oldest son was about two years old, and absolutely love them. While there are companies that sell dedicated sensory bins or premade sensory bins, I prefer making them myself. It’s easier to swap between bins and much cheaper this way.

Note: These suggestions are based on my experience with my own kids. You know your child best, so follow your gut for their safety and always stay nearby to help.

Bins for toddlers who still explore with their mouths

I’ve had success with ice cubes, Cheerios, dried rice, and mixes of dried beans. Simple cups, scoopers, and a toddler figurine in the bin creates the “fill it up” play space. My kiddo also loves transferring beans or rice from one container to another. This activity can be done outside, but I usually save it for days we need to be inside - like if it’s smoky. And if the contents of the bin end up on the floor, I simply pull out the vacuum and let my oldest suck it up with a hose attachment. (Bonus, this has taught him to help me clean the house by sweeping and vacuuming!)

Pro tip: Choose a plastic bin with a lid that secures in place to keep your sensory bin tidy when not in use.

Bins for older kids that don’t explore with their mouths (usually 3+ years)

Kinetic sand and a few construction trucks have occupied my oldest for long stretches. He still loves using beans and rice bins, too. But the biggest winner? A simple set up of water, food coloring, and kid-friendly pipettes. My son calls it “doing colors” - he loves mixing the different colored waters to experiment and see what happens. A variation of this is telling him to transfer the water from one container to another only using the pipettes, or adding some leaves and flowers from our garden that he can cut with scissors to put into the water.

Pro tip: The sensory bin tool sets from Learning Resources have lasted multiple summers and work with all of the bins mentioned above.

#4 Backyard dirt pit or mud kitchen

If you have a corner of your yard you're willing to sacrifice, a dirt pit or a simple DIY mud kitchen is a goldmine for independent play. Kids love getting messy, and pouring water into dirt can keep them captivated for hours. I often grab sturdy plastic yard toys or old pans, bowls, or spoons to outfit a mud kitchen. If you don’t have any old kitchen items to spare, hit up local thrift stores in Bend to supply their "kitchen." While they are busy whipping up mud pies, you can easily sit nearby with your laptop and reply to client emails.

Pro Tip: Save mud kitchen activities for the afternoon. You can wash off your dirty kid before dinner time, and then not worry about a bath before bed.

#5 Tend to plants - gardening care

Kids are fascinated by how things grow. I started exploring plant growth with my oldest son when he was three years old. You don’t have to be fancy about experimenting with gardening. Cheap seeds from the store, a kid-sized watering can, and a little pot will do just fine. But if you do want a more curated learning experience, my son loved the window garden kit from KiwiCo. (I’m not an affiliate for KiwiCo - I just happen to really like the easy set up of this kit.) My son had a blast making the soil expand, planting the seeds, and watching the plants grow.

#6 Water play

When the high-desert summer heat hits its afternoon peak, water play is the easiest way to reset a cranky mood. You don't need a fancy pool to make this work. I’ve gotten years of use out of simple set ups. Since we are in the desert, I frame water play with the “once it’s gone, it’s not getting refilled” ground rules. This prevents over-zealous handling of the garden hose and teaches kids to not dump all of the water out before they are done playing for the day.

Water table or bin

Throwing in some plastic measuring cups, ice cubes, or even plastic toys that need a "car wash" works wonders. I’ve also put plastic dinosaurs in the water for a bath - my oldest son loves role playing with these activities. My youngest is thrilled with simply splashing and getting wet.

The classic kiddie pool

Set it up in the grass, pull up a lawn chair, and supervise with your laptop or phone in hand. It’s amazing how a simple splash session can buy you a solid 30-minute block to check off a business task.

Pro tip: set up your ground rules beforehand for safety and to prevent your tech from getting wet.

#7 Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles

**It’ll never cease to amaze me how quickly bubbles can make a grumpy kid smile.** I always have a stash of bubbles on hand, and in a variety of different ways to blow them. Battery operated blowers are great for the little ones that can’t yet blow bubbles themselves.

Handheld bubble blowers are perfect for preschoolers (usually 3 years and up) that want to run around with the bubbles. Big bubble wands are perfect for getting kids’ attention and getting them interested in the bubbles. I will forever buy bubbles while I’ve got kids. (I also use bubbles to get candid moments in family photo sessions.)

#8 Doctor’s office - all the stuffies are sick

My son prefers to play doctor with me or his father, but it can be a hands-off game with stuffed animals and dolls. I frame it with, “Oh no! Your giraffe is sick! Can you help it?” and he can continue with the play for a bit. If play starts to slow down, I can swap in a new stuffed toy or come up with a new illness. This is a great pretend play game for the moments you need to be indoors during the summer, like if it’s too hot or it’s smoky outside.

I purchased a little pretend doctor’s kit for my son (it’s in its third year and still in great condition), because I liked its simplicity. It came with a play stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, syringe, and ointment container. I added to it with a cloth mask, a set of gloves, and an old ace bandage that we no longer use.

#9 Nature hunt - can you find…?

As my boys have grown, our outdoor time has evolved into noticing the world around us. You don't have to drive out to Smith Rock or a crowded trailhead to do this; a simple walk around your Bend neighborhood or a trip to a local park is perfect. I like to give my oldest a quick checklist before we walk out the door: find a pinecone, a wildflower, a piece of high-desert sagebrush. It turns the walk into a game, keeps little legs moving, and teaches them to love the natural textures of Central Oregon. (Bonus tip: I also like to point out things as we walk, like how the light filters through trees. Noticing details is exactly how I scout beautiful backdrops for outdoor family photo sessions!)

#10 Get out and do something!

It’s hard to get out solo with littles (trust me, I know), but getting out of the house at least once a week is important for you all to not lose your minds. Over the years, I have found that balancing one or two outings a week with playing at home the rest of the weekdays was enough to chase the humdrum feelings away. Head to a playground (check out this list of my favorite playgrounds in Bend for little kids to dive deeper. [link to blog post] ), go for a trail hike, or head indoors for some air conditioning and different activities.

Hang out at the new Central Library

Going to the library is an excellent opportunity to play in the kids area a bit, read some stories at the library, and check out a few new books. The new Central Library that just opened in Bend is pretty incredible.

The entire second floor is dedicated to children’s and young adult literature, and it was clearly designed with the idea of giving families space to spend together there. Don’t just get caught up by the large play area in the center, though. There are work stations along the windows specifically set up for babies and toddlers to explore in enclosed, padded play areas attached to desks.

Pro tip: The children’s library play area is not a drop-and-go scene. You’re still responsible for ensuring your child behaves appropriately.

Make a special play date with a friend

Bend has several play hubs available for little kids, so take advantage of it with a special playdate with a friend. Does your child need to move their body? Perhaps jumping around at Mountain Air or open play at COGA would get their wiggles out. Does your child enjoy imaginative play? Then head to Play Theory for lots of play options, including themed learning tables that are rotated throughout the year.

Pro Tip: Meeting up with a friend gives your kid some social time - and you a break from being their playmate.

Running a business while navigating the beautiful chaos of summer with toddlers and young kids is no small feat. Some days are smooth successes, and other days are fueled entirely by coffee and sensory bin cleanups. But even in the middle of the busiest seasons, these fleeting summer years are ones you will want to look back on forever. So, even though you’re busy, don’t forget to slow down for a minute and snap some pictures of your summer activities together.

If you want to step out from behind your business tasks (and your own phone camera) to capture the real, connected story of your family this season, I would love to help. My summer and fall calendar fills up quickly due to our local baby boom and travel season. Inquire about a Central Oregon family session today, and let's get your memories on the calendar so you can cross one more major thing off your to-do list (and before the fall rush, too!).

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