The fact they need encouragement in that direction is a little depressing, but it's a start.

The Playful Endeavour space will "offer a collection of found and made materials to encourage creative play for children of all ages and abilities". Mmm, fancy. But here comes the best bit: "plus a big pile of dirt to get messy in!"

Glorious.

Nothing makes my heart sing more than seeing my kids' clothes absolutely filthy after a day at school (I mean with dirt and mud, not tomato sauce or Zooper Dooper juice). All that grot means they've had a good time.

I usually need to tip half a cup of sand out of each of my son's shoes following an afternoon of him digging tunnels in the school sandpit. [One mother told me - possibly an urban myth or Facebook meme - that when a child finished their years at daycare, their parent returned a sack full of sand to the centre, explaining "Here, this is yours".]

Nature play has become the "in" thing with playground designs of late. Natural materials are in the mix, more challenging obstacles, and getting back to the basics with play. We've seen some "nature play" playgrounds built in the ACT, including at Farrer, Kambah, Woden and Yerrabi Pond, which is fantastic.

I know the nature play area at my kids' school is one of the most popular places to be at recess and lunch.

It's just a collection of tarps and milk crates and ropes but, from what I hear, it's almost Lord of the Flies out there as each group develops and guards their base (I haven't spotted an impaled pig's head just yet). There must be some underlying messages about sharing and compromising, and I'm not entirely sure bringing in your own tarp meets that goal. But they will live and learn.

And nature play has been taken up in an official way by the ACT government.

Nature Play CBR is an initiative charged with "getting more children outdoors more often so they can reap the benefits of unstructured playing, learning and being physically active".

It's like recapturing some of our own childhood to share with our children - "riding our bikes around the neighbourhood, swinging from the clothesline, climbing trees, playing backyard games of cricket or soccer that spilled out onto the street".

"Children today are increasingly unable to relate to these experiences. In fact, ACT children are spending less time outside in nature than at any other time in our history," Nature CBR says.

Ain't that the truth. Damn screens. I remember the best fun I ever had as a child was rolling down dirt hills trying not to hit the river at my friend's farm, our parents nowhere to be seen.

My six-year-old son is easy to entertain - he and his friends just keep digging the hole in our backyard bigger and bigger (I will have to dial now I've dug). My 10-year-old daughter is tougher. When her friends come around and she asks "What should we do?", I have said: "Why don't you dress up and make a movie?" What the? Make a movie? So, it's come to that. What I need to say is go make a daisy chain.

These school holidays I'm thinking a good dose of sunshine and mud should inoculate the kids from most nasties before school starts again. And it turns out that's kind of true.

Nature Play CBR says children who play regularly in natural settings are sick less often: "Mud, sand, water, leaves, sticks, pine cones and gum nuts can help to stimulate children's immune system as well as their imagination."

They are also less likely to be overweight, stressed or anxious anxiety. They are more creative and confident. And that's just the start.

"Opportunities for outdoor play and immersion in nature are essential to the health and wellbeing of children, helping them to develop to their full potential," Nature Play CBR says.

Happy school holidays. Now go get dirty.