Divide your day up into segments. The mornings and late afternoons will be pick-up and drop-off times, so set those times aside for free play. Separate the rest of the day into 30-minute or 60-minute segments, depending on the age of the children you watch and their specific needs. Older children might be able to participate in an activity for 60 minutes, while younger children, with a shorter attention span, might need more regular activity changes.
Identify the types of activities you want to offer every day. In addition to free play, you might want to include group activities, such as stations; creative projects, such as arts and crafts and outdoor activities, such as a nature walk or a trip to the playground.
Brainstorm different ideas for each activity category you create. Rather than sitting down to create a lesson plan every day, you can make them on a weekly or monthly basis and pull from your list of activities in each category. Regularly add to the lists as new ideas come to mind.
Incorporate time for naps, meals and snacks into the lesson plan. Not every moment of the day has to be full of activity. Children, especially young ones, need time to unwind and rest, whether they are taking a nap or simply sitting quietly and enjoying a snack while you read them a story. Add such segments to your daily lesson plan.