What to Do During "Im Bored" Times?

They can do chores/work around the house
They can play board (bored) games - lol
You and the boys can do interactive games
You and the boys can play "pretend'/imaginative games
They can read and study to prepare for school
They can play together
The oldest can teach the youngest how to do something - put a puzzle together
They can watch productive television
They can volunteer or help someone a night per week
You can talk and discuss things in life that they should prepare for...

When my kids tell me "I'm bored" I tell them they can find something to do or I will find it for them. Making themselves busy helps them become creative and teaches them how to fill their own time. On a few occasions, they've taken me up on the offer and I've gotten a few extra jobs out of them that day. Win, win situation I'd say!

What about time just playing and running around with other kids?
My kids have (had) friends over a LOT. I have never been one of those moms to constantly play with/entertain my children, and we don't live around many other families.
So when they are bored I call up mom x, y, z, whoever is around and say, "hey can little johnny/betsy come over to play for a few/several hours?" They are kids not house guests, don't feel like you need to be a hostess. As long as you have something like grapes and pretzels on hand you're good to go.
It's a win-win for all. The moms get a break and the kids get a play date, all at no cost and no need for a car :)

Make a formake play dough
Scavenger hunt n and around your house
Arts & crafts
Coloring sheets
Math games
Reading games
Prep for school testing
Scrabble... Spelling games

Check resources online. Good luck

It is good for kids, to entertain themselves too.
So they learn, self-sufficiency.

When my kids are 'bored', I tell them "GOOD, that means your brain is working... think of something to do." And they do.
They are very creative.
Boredom is good, for promoting creativity... and using their own, resources.
And I tell my kids, it is GOOD being 'bored.'

Give them some empty boxes, and tell them to make something.
It teaches them: creativity and problem-solving too.

Wow, you've gotten lots of great suggestions already!

When it's too hot/ cold/ rainy to go outside, my kids love it when I get an old queen-sized sheet, and make a fort for them. I do something different each time. Once the fort is made, they add whatever toys they want to it, and spend hours playing in there.

what about reading time at the library? often, the library sponsors different free event and classes for all ages. Additionally, have you checked your local YMCA or Boys Club? Often those two places will have free or very inexpensive activities going on (Especially the Boys Club)
Lastly, Churches are also a good place to check out (and you needn't be a member) but they will have day camps going on and often will work on a sliding scale and in some cases, allow you to attend for free..

I wish you the best..

9 yr olds should be great at buidlign things, like bird houses, or even hammering nails into an old board.

a tent in the back yard or living room?

have the older one be responisble for planning and making a whole meal. Teach him how to do laundry and vaccumm and other house hold chores.

invite school friends over for a lemondae party.

Well the type of activities are slightly different due to the age difference. I would encourage your 9 year old to write keep a journal, let him record his imagination or assign him a project to explore and write about. He can read books from the library, movies, art projects. Your 3 year old can help you cook, you can read books to him, my daughter at that age would help me make cupcakes, pancakes, pizza dough, food pockets. She also love to paint and watch Elmo dvds. There's plenty to move onto once you see what peaks their interests. In the Fall you can check if your area has the First 5 program, they're a school readiness program for ages 0-5 and in my area they offer transportation to and from. Good luck.

There are lots of things your boys can do at or near home. If they need a goal in these activities, maybe it can be to show their Daddy, who works so hard and loves them so much.

Bring them boxes - old storage boxes, big refrigerator boxes, any kind of box they can play with. Let them make the boxes into whatever they want.

Go on bug hunts. Give the boys pads of paper and a pencil, and have them draw any bug they see. Then post them on a wall as if your kitchen, hallway, etc., were a museum. Another week, have them do leaf hunts, or rock hunts, and they can draw those. Drawing "ability" is not necessary. Ask your husband to be the museum-goer so your "curators" can show their exhibits.

Take them to the library on reading-aloud days. Read to them aloud at home as well. Have your boys collaborate on a story they can tell to their Daddy (and if it's a rehash of a TV show or a book they've read, it's no big deal).

While you're at the library, find a CD of old American folk songs - oldies but goodies like "I've Been Working on the Railroad" - and let your boys learn them so they can sing them to Daddy.

Encourage your older one to read any books he thinks might be interesting, while you read in a different room to the other one. (I have a granddaughter who says reading chapter books is boring. I just sent her a good book with a hand-drawn "boredom not allowed" sign affixed to the front with scotch tape. I hope she'll laugh and read the book.)

You want to take advantage of the comparative openness of a summer schedule to get your children to imagine, to think, to try things on their own, as well as doing the traditional summer activities of swimming, park play, etc.

Boredom breeds creativity.

Let them be bored. In fact, encourage it. It may take a day or two (depending on their tolerance), but as soon as the "entertainment machine" stops being an entertainment machine (whether that's you, the tv, etc.)... their imaginations will turn back on.

I have not read the other answers but my automatic response is always if you don't have anything to do lets go to the library and get some books. If they are truly bored they will say ok. if not they will find something else to do.

We do crafts, play school and practice handwriting, read alot, play board games and/or family video games, charades, make your own pizzas, 'car wash' for the toys, pretend store...anything really. The secret is to join in and have fun with them. Good luck!

I'd say board games. There are some that would work for both of them. Search Mamapedia for "board games" and you'll get tons of questions with lots of suggestions of names. We are also in a hot climate and we play board games at least 3 times a week for 2-3 hours at a time. They love it! (my boys are 11 and 9). Also, card games. Make a big deal out of it with snacks, popcorn etc. It's worked great for us!

Find some woman's shelters and gather up some toys and cloths and take your boys on a reality TRIP! Once they see how some other children have to live, perhaps they won't feel so BORED.

Blessings.....

we hit galveston ALOT they love the beach..well i do too :) and its FREE e pack a coooler and some snacks and got for the afternoon. I like the pocket beaches too . I pay 8.00 and there are showers and bathrooms to use and clean scraped beaches

Scavenger hunts. Have the older one "help" the younger one, who can't read. this can be done indoors with items around home, or outdoors where you have identified items like leaves they would find in the yard. Also for the 10-year-old, maybe remedial school work to keep his mind active and prevent the summer "lag" when fall comes.

Updated

You didn't mention grandparents or other family nearby situation. During summer months at my grandmother's, I would do family history "research" and write it all down, until she would get tired of answering my questions. Maybe the 9 and 3 year olds could write a "play" using characters from their family stories or books they are familiar with (with your help, of course)

How about getting them interested in reading? Take them to the library. Another suggestion would be to play board games with them that make them think. This skill is good for comprehension as well as math. There are games such as Othello, Chinese checkers, and even Yhatzee.

You could set aside a time for them to work on academics such as math/reading. Yes, I am a teacher and this is what we encourage our parents to do with their children. You do not have to spend hours with the activites. Thirty minutes of silent reading does wonders. You could even give them a spiral so they can write down their thoughts as they read. This helps.

Be sure to give them things that will spark their creativity. Things to build, crafts to make, paint, glue, etc. When they tell you that they are bored, ask them what they are going to do so that you are not the one to always give ideas. As a teacher, I see our kids losing that ability to be creative.

Projects are good. Is there a shelf you would like added to a closet? The 9-year-old would probably love a project like that. Are there loose screws around the house or loose nails in a fence? You get the idea. Is there an old piece of furniture they can paint - something that the 3-year-old can't "ruin."

Have them make a menu for the month. I always loved knowing what my kids wanted to eat. Have them make it creative so it gives them the opportunity to work together on something.

The 3-year-old needs to learn about how things work, so there lots of things for him to touch, smell, mix, etc.

we had to use our imagination. when we gave the "im bored" to our mom she found something for us to clean. we got a good "warning" first...like go outside and find something to do or you can help me clean. only once in a while did we find ourselves cleaning! good luck.