Tucked away in a corner of one of my closets is a time capsule that our family will open in 2010. I can’t wait!
We created it in 2000 – the beginning of a new century and a new millennium.
This is the second one we’ve done as a family. It was great fun to see the things that we put in the first one — especially the pictures. My, how we had changed over time! What on earth ever made me decide to have THAT hair do???
Creating a time capsule with a grandchild is a fun activity. Get a sturdy box — preferably cardboard so it is not see through.
Invite your grandchild or grandchildren over to select and create items to go inside the box.
Depending on the age of your grandchild, you would have her put in things that are age appropriate or currently meaningful to her.
Here is a list of possible ideas of things that a grandchild could include:
- school picture
- picture of her family, home, friends, pets
- hand print in plaster of Paris
- a description of daily activities
- name of school she is attending
- grade she is in and name of the teacher
- classes taking in school
- list of the names of close friends
- her prediction of what she hopes to be doing in 5 years
Here is a list of things that you could put in:
- a current picture of you and your husband
- a picture of your home
- a picture of your pets
- pictures of you and your granddaughter
- in various activities
- list of your daily activities
- description of your job and where you work
- a list of your current hobbies and interests
- a list of things that you hope to
- be able to do/accomplish in 5 years
You might also want to include:
- picture of the sports team she is on or the dance or gymnastics group she is in
- a copy of the newspaper
- a list of important current events — locally, nationally, or in the world
- a list of her current cousins
- the name of her boy friend (if she has one)
- the title of her favorite book — and yours
- a description of her/your favorite food
- an explanation of her/your favorite color
- an explanation of a funny experience
- a description of a favorite toy
- a sample of her school work or her penmanship
- the name of a popular movie or her/your favorite movie
You can include silly things. Important things. Items of interest. Whatever strikes your fancy. Be creative. The more creative, the more enjoyment when the capsule is opened.
Gather all of the items and place them in the box. Seal the box with wide strapping tape so that no one will be tempted to open it to take a peek.
You need to determine when you want to open the capsule. The younger the child, the shorter the time span should be. For someone who is under six years old, one or two years might be good. Five years at the most. If you have a late elementary school aged or older grandchild, opening the time capsule in five to ten years would work.
On a piece of paper, write the date the capsule was created and indicate when it should be opened. Tape this paper to the box. You might want to decorate the outside of the box. Then, put it in a spot where it can safely remain until the time to open it.
Don’t put it in a place where it will be totally forgotten! Make sure it will be in a spot that you will see occasionally so that you won’t forget about it.
