In the dark days of January, I like to go swimming—in the sparkling light of an indoor pool. When I was young, my mother taught me and my four siblings to swim. That gift has carried me through many troubled waters over the years. Swimming sets me free, no matter what worries I have that day. I escape in the joy of play.

As a child, I enjoyed watching my mother swim laps, slowly and effortlessly. It was her mother who taught her how to swim in a river when she was a girl in France. It’s amazing how time spent with a child can yield benefits well beyond time and space. My mother taught many others to swim—adults and one handicapped boy—from her twenties, living far from home, in South America. I’ve tried to teach my children too, but I’ve discovered that they’re more motivated when I race with them, than when I’m trying to be a “teacher.” There’s nothing like a competition—and beating mom—to urge them on.

Having fun, sharing hobbies and playing alongside our kids may be the best gift we can give them, especially now that family budgets are tight. Simple pleasures like taking a walk in the pouring rain—equipped with rain boots and raincoat—have brought my kids, my mother and me giggles on a rainy day. Nothing beats splashing in a puddle or riding your bike through one. (Another past-time acquired from my mother.)

If you have a hobby that you enjoy, share it with your kids. It may turn out to be their finest childhood memory with a ripple effect that reaches others.

If you’re looking for free family fun, you’ll find it in Carolina Parent's Ultimate Family Resource Guide to Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and other Triangle cities. Check out our listing of outdoor recreation areas, parks & playgrounds in our guide, now online.