Go back in time with your little ones,
Bury some memories with your daughters and sons!
They can look back when they grow,
To memories that they may not know!
What is a time capsule?
Time capsules are easy to make and a great family experience, both in the planning, preparation, burial and finally when it is opened by our kids in the years to come. They can be fancy stainless steel air-tight boxes sealed for decades below ground or a shoebox in the attic! A few searches on Amazon and eBay will reveal a wide variety to choose from. Here are a few pointers on how to make some amazing memories for your kids in the future!
How to make a time capsule and where to put it?
What container to use is dependent on where you will keep it (indoors or outdoors), and when you intend to open it. If you are going to open it again in ten years, then a shoe box left in the loft will be perfectly acceptable. For longer periods, then a sealable plastic container will work well if kept inside.
For those wanting to bury their capsule outside, then the container needs to be super strong, watertight and will not corrode. Stainless steel ones can be purchased on the internet if you want to ensure it lasts for many years. However, strong plastic containers with a screw top lid will suffice and are readily available and cheap.
If it’s going to be buried for a long time, then you must think about how the landscape may change. For example, trees will be a whole lot bigger when you come to dig it up so think about location carefully. In your garden may be fine, but only if you will still be there in ten or twenty years.
How long to leave it
This all depends on when you want the kids to open it. On their 18th birthday? When they have their own children? Agreeing on this question will help you decide which kind of container and where you put it.
What to put in it?
This is the fun bit! These are your memories so put in whatever you want. Here are a few ideas to help you plan some great items to include:
• Photographs…lots and lots of photographs!
• Recording of mum and dad reading a favourite story
• A sealed letter from mum and dad
• A list of questions answered
• A newspaper or a kids magazine
• A sports medal won
• Draw a picture
• Write a letter to your future self
• Send yourself a birthday card
• A video or audio recording (think about how it might be played back in twenty years!).
Future proofing
Some key tips for future proofing your memories:
• Make sure it is waterproof and airtight!
• Black and white photos will last longer than colour
• Things to avoid are food or perishables, batteries and I would discourage pets (my little one is determined to put in Bernard his pet snail).
• If you put in any recording devices for video or audio, then include details of voltage and current requirements, as technology will change!
What have you been up to? We’d really love to know! Someone else might love it, and really want to go! If you’ve got ideas, suggestions or reviews, you can shout all about it on whatever channel you choose!
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