As the new year unfolds, it’s the perfect time to embark on a heartfelt tradition that will capture the essence of your family’s journey throughout the year—a Family Time Capsule. This activity provides an opportunity to reflect on your year and what you’d the year for your family to look like this year. Here’s how to create and curate a time capsule that will be a treasure trove of memories when opened on next New Year’s Eve.
Creating the Time Capsule:
1. Selecting the Container:
Try to find a sturdy and airtight container to protect the items your family will decide to place inside. However, don’t stress to much about this part. This could be a box (decorate it as a family!), a sealed jar, or even a waterproof storage container.
2. Choosing a Location:
Decide where you’ll store the time capsule throughout the year. If you have little ones, somewhere out of reach is probably best.
3. Setting the Date:
Aim to open the time capsule on the next New Year’s Eve. This will become an annual tradition, allowing your family to revisit the memories from the previous year.
Some Fun Questions to Ask the Kids:
- What is your favorite memory from this year?
- If you could choose one word to describe our family this year, what would it be?
- What new thing did you learn or discover this year?
- Who is your current hero, and why?
- If you could time travel to next year, what would you want to tell your future self?
- What special family moment do you want to remember forever?
I’m sure you can come up with some other fun ones! Write their answers down or better yet, record them in a video, upload it to YouTube, and create a QR code to include in the time capsule.
Ideas of Items to Include in the Time Capsule:
- Family Photos: Print and include photos that capture significant moments and milestones from the past year.
- Handwritten Letters: Each family member can write a letter to their future selves or to each other, sharing thoughts, dreams, and reflections.
- Drawings or Artwork: Encourage the kids to create drawings or artwork of what they love right now.
- Favorite Quotes: Write down favorite quotes, sayings, or phrases that resonated with your family during the year.
- Newspaper or Magazine Clippings: Include a few relevant clippings to provide a snapshot of current events or cultural trends from the year.
- A List of Achievements: Document personal and family achievements, whether big or small, to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of each family member.
- A Family Playlist: Create a playlist of your family’s favorite songs from the year and use everyone’s favorite songs and the hits from all the living room dance parties you had.
- Memory Jar Notes: Throughout the year, encourage family members to jot down special moments on small notes and add them to the time capsule (this can be done for the next one).
- Predictions for the Future: Have each family member make predictions or set goals for the upcoming year, sealed in envelopes to be opened next New Year’s Eve.
- DVD/USB of Pictures/Videos: What a fun tradition to look at this and watch snippets of the family’s life throughout the year. It’s a wonderful way to visually capture your family’s year!
As you seal your Family Time Capsule with love and anticipation, remember that this simple tradition is a celebration of your year as a family. When the time comes to open it on the next New Year’s Eve, you’ll be greeted not only by tangible mementos but also by the intangible joy of reliving the shared moments that define your family’s memories.
XOXO,
Diana