Give children some sidewalk chalk and let them design masterpieces and play hopscotch in your driveway. Mix up a bubble solution and let them use different items as bubble wands, such as slotted cooking utensils, hangers and straws. Plan a nature walk or scavenger hunt in your backyard. If you have room, let the children play dodge ball, kickball, badminton and other sports. Children will enjoy jumping rope, using hula hoops and playing with a parachute.
Let children be creative by doing simple crafts with them. Give them an opportunity to paint, color, glue and cut with safety scissors. Have clay available for molding and rolling. Encourage parents to save and donate reusable items, such as toilet paper tubes and milk cartons, to use to make crafts at your daycare. Design some of your crafts to complement stories that you read to the children. Although you'll provide instruction, guidance and help when necessary, let the children do the projects with their own hands.
Have a variety of jigsaw puzzles available for independent play and group work. The puzzles can be as simple as putting shapes into the appropriate spot or more complex with several pieces to connect. Although you can purchase a variety of puzzles, create personalized puzzles for your children to do. Make the puzzles out of photographs glued on cardboard or create puzzles using the letters of their names. You can purchase blank craft puzzles and let your daycare children decorate their own puzzles, too.
Depending on the age of your students, available transportation and parental permission, you can take students on field trips. Going on field trips expose small children to new places, people and ideas. Many public libraries provide a weekly pre-school story time. These story times can involve students hearing a story, doing a craft, singing songs and dancing. Taking children to a local park to play and have a picnic adds variety to the home daycare routine. Children can bring kites and fly them in the park. Contact local museums and businesses to find out about special tours or programs they offer.