In the days before computers and video games, children spent much of their after-school time outdoors at the playground, riding their bikes and playing sports with friends. The result was a generation of kids who grew up active and healthy.

Today, digital distractions give youngsters plenty of reasons not to go outside. A recent study found that youths ages 8 to 18 spend more than six hours a day using electronic media, as much as 45 hours per week.

“It’s no secret that play is key to healthy child development,” said Darell Hammond, CEO of KaBoom, a nonprofit that encourages playtime and helps to build playgrounds. “Studies show that active kids are healthier, perform better in school and learn better social skills than kids who are less inclined to play.”

Fortunately, it’s still possible to help children connect to the world outside their front doowithout spending a fortune. Here are a few suggestions for parentto encourage their children to en

•Host a play day in your community. Play beloved games of yesteryear, including hopscotch, foursquare, double Dutch and kickball.

•Build a fort. Use old items from the garage, such as cardboard boxes, camping supplies and beach toys. Let the kids build a fort as big or as small as their imaginations can fathom.

•Run through the sprinklers. Skip the neighborhood pool, green up the lawn and give kids free rein to splish-splash away.

•Keep it simple. Stock up on bubbles, sidewalk chalk and hula hoops for hours of outside fun.

•Spruce it up. Organize the community to clean up and beautify existing play spaces. Working side by side, parents and children can make a difference right in their own neighborhoods.