3 scoops = you're done!

When I just couldn't take the question "can I play now?" any more, I came up with the ice cream idea. Each child had 3 things they had to do each day during the summer (that we were home and not running around somewhere) BEFORE they could play outside with friends, turn on the TV, play on the computer, etc. But they really didn't need one more of mom's lists to check off. So I printed 3 scoops for each kid with specifics for their assignments on their color paper. (each child has a designated color for everything from drinking cups to school supplies; helps keep things straight and know quickly who left what out where it didn't belong). 

Anyway, I printed the assignments on scoop shaped clip art and then cut a brown ice cream cone from construction paper. With a magnet on the back of each piece, they were stuck on the fridge and ready to go. Each night the scoops are cleared off their cones. Each morning the child puts the scoop on the cone when the assignment has been completed. The word "zones" (chores) is on a red circle for the cherry on top (not pictured - I took the pictures before the cherries were printed). When the 3 things have been done and the cherry put on top, they are free to play on the computer, watch TV or visit with friends.

Each day that they get all 3 scoops completed, they put a star onto the cone. At the end of the summer, we will take the cone with the least amount of stars (want them to encourage each other and make it more of a group project) and there will be some sort of reward in accordance with the numbers. Might be the number of topping scoops they put on frozen yogurt, number of water balloons they get in a water balloon fight, number of cookies or M&Ms they're allowed to pick...we'll come up with something.