Playing with Boys (Me)

I agree with the other poster that mentioned sports.
Bring a soccer ball and kick it around with them outside. Bring a tee and ball and let them take swings at it while you retrieve the balls.

Also, bring shovels and buckets and dig in the dirt with them (the 4 and 6 yr olds will love that). Collect rocks and stick and load up a toy dump truck.

Have races...if you can take it. LOL! The 4 and 6 yr olds will be excited to compete with each other. The 2 yr old will be happy to join.

Take them out on their bikes or scooters.

Boys are simple. They're happy to just be in action and get dirty.

What a good friend you are, and I love that she gave you an honest answer! I'm assuming that the weather is good where you are? If so, then getting outside would be great. Is there a playground within walking distance to her house? I would imagine that with a houseful of boys (I have three) they already have a swing set, bikes, scooters, balls, bats, video games, cars, super heroes etc. Just show up and be prepared to watch them so she can have some time alone to herself or with the newborn. My boys have always had girls over (their friends and my nieces) and they've never needed help all playing together.

Surly she didn't mean to actually play with them, who does that? I would imagine she just wants you to divert their attention from her so she can spend time with the baby.

Most boys are independent players but like all little kids when you need time to yourself they are all over you like a cheap suit.

I think your best bet is to ask her what they like to play and go from there.

Take a ball and let them play outside.

Bring over a movie and let them sit with you and watch while mom takes care of the baby.

Ooooh, bring over a race car track!

Cars, trains, trucks on the floors, on the shelves, on the walls, on the bed, everywhere an adventure might happen. Art work, puzzles, take them to the park for a couple of hours at least, play with Play Doh.

You can do pretend play too. They might like dressing up like doctors, firemen, make forts with blankets and kitchen table chairs then play explorers on the way up a mountain, build with blocks whether it's cut pieces of wood or Lego's (they should enjoy using their mechanical and spatial skills), they'll think you're the coolest adult ever if you mention snot, boogers, you know, normal stuff Mom's won't let them talk about.

http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/844893/lessons...

Make Play-Doh or some other experiment kind of stuff like Cornstarch and water with a few drops of food coloring in it. They can stir it up and watch it change.

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Messy play, parents usually hate the idea of doing this with their own kids because it takes so long to clean up the mess, you can do stuff like these ideas then go hose the kids off and the play space too if you do it outside.....

Fingerpaint with pudding on the kitchen table (if it's smooth and sealed so it's slick), or use shaving cream with some jello sprinkled in it to make colors, watch the 2 year old so they don't put anything in their mouth to taste it. Having the little one write letters, make fish, make squiggles with the side of their hand, making clouds in the sky...anything interesting and named will make this fun for the little one. The 4 yr. old will enjoy writing his name and making fart sounds with the palm of their hand laying flat on the moist table and pushing it up and down...boys must play about pooh and pee and silly stuff.

http://baby.more4kids.info/2008/03/benefits-of-messy-play/

http://www.ehow.com/info_###-###-####_tactile-ways-write-...
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Dig in the dirt and look for worms and bugs. Go for a walk and collect rocks and sticks and whatever they like. If you simply hold the 2 yr. old's hand instead of a continuous stroller thing they'll get more out of the hands on nature stuff but taking the stroller would be good so if they get tired you can plop them in it.

Sensory play is important and they'd love it.
You can plan ahead by getting a flat style storage tub and putting some sand in it. Then put stuff in it that is buried. I would bring the sand separately so it wouldn't be so heavy to carry. You can take the tub and put the things in it, again, 2 year olds will put anything in their mouth if they take a notion so make sure the items are big enough to not slide down a toilet paper tube, then put a layer of sand in, then a few more toys, then more sand. The deeper the better but not more than 10 inches or so, the little ones may lose interest if it's too deep and too hard.

You could do pasta, rice, popcorn, egg noodles, measuring cups, bowls, spoons of different sizes,

http://childcareandbeyond.tripod.com/sensoryplay.html

http://pinterest.com/rarollston/ot-tactile-sensory/

http://edutask.com/child-development-education/sensory-pl...

http://notjustcute.com/2010/03/24/a-handful-of-fun-why-se...
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If it's warm enough you can set up the sprinkler and let them run amok in the water. Or take them to the local splash pad, I would NOT take them swimming since you don't know them extremely well in the water already but water play can be very fun. Anything to keep their minds occupied and full of fun to let mom rest and have some alone time with the new baby.

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What kids learn while they are playing, a very good article about playtime.
http://users.stargate.net/~cokids/Borden.html

Some good ideas for kids that you're not too familiar with, they may think some games are fun but too aggressive.
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddle...

I think you're a very good friend to take on 3 boys for your friend. I think I would plan on the park for at least an hour with a big bag of sand toys and a cooler with snacks in them. Then if it rains plan on a lot of indoor activities.

I did not find I ever needed to play with my boys. They liked to play with each other, and they knew what to do. Take them to a playground, or provide them with some sports equipment or toys, and let them play. The playground is the best plan because it will get them out of moms hair, because it doesn't matter who is looking after them, they always seek out mom if they want something.

What about some games outside ? I'm thinking something like Simon Says, a scavenger hunt, etc. Most boys like anything pretty active.

boys are into dolls (action figures) crafts and dress up (super heros). I think it would be helpful if you take them to a near by playground (bring band aids). if there is a feild set up obstical courses. I have my kids dance some evenings to burn up some energy (pandora family halloween right now). or you can set up a tent outside there house or even a card board box. make a treasure hunting game for them. pirates and princesses. boys do most of the same things girls do (kid activities) just louder and rougher!!!

My son would build fire stations with his Duplo blocks then pretend to put out fires with his fire trucks.

Run around outside games? Buy a large ball and just kick it around the yard. Matchbox cars are cheap, buy a bunch and just let everyone have at them. A bucket of legos(small)/duplos(large) everyone can play with those as well.

Just ask them what they want to play. Ask them to show you their toys and games. Take them to a park. Take them outside to ride on their bikes/scooters/tricycle.

Yesterday my son and I played action figures. The dinosaurs and other animals were invading and the action figures had to chase them off and save their friend, who the dinosaur was eating at the time.

Boys also like play doh, and boyish arts and crafts. You can make sock puppets.

My son and daughter love bug catching. In IL we have a dollar store where you can buy a basic bug catcher and go outside and search for them. In CA your weather is probably great for this right now.

I also like the idea of doing some of the messy stuff like painting that most parents hate cleaning up themselves. Make it easy on yourself by putting a cheap table cover on that you can just roll up and throw the whole mess away.

My four year old is crazy about dinosaurs...soccer, bikes, and games (board or video).

Playing with my boys was very important for me ...and them! I can see why this would lift the spirits of both this mom and her boys. They have toys and balls I bet. You are just there to help them enjoy and keep order! I am not huge but I am not a skinny woman. I am NOT athletic. Kids don't care. They want you to enjoy playing with them and being competitive. Let them win rarely! They will treasure it! Most of the time they don't whine or hold grudges. They aren't concerned with how something looks. I teach 1&2nd grade Sunday school and have parties for them. They are a hoot! Have fun!

Trucks, ball, running around...maybe some crafts

Tball. Its a foam ball and soft bat so no one gets hurt. If your the althletic type soccer.

Just play with THEIR toys. They probably have trains, blocks, cars, Legos, etc. My son played with a lot of the same things my daughter's did, like play doh, puzzles/games, little people/animals and pretend play (dress up, tools, super heroes, play store/kitchen.) Boys and girls are very similar at this age, it won't be hard to figure out!
Or better yet, take them outside to play (hide and seek, tag, etc.) I'm sure mom would appreciate you wearing them out!