by Tammy Sandeen

Created on: January 04, 2010

Do you look over your life and share those memories with your children? Will you want your grandchildren to hear their parent's stories? Here is a neat idea that you can adapt to your family situation. New Years and Birthdays are great times to create a time capsule.  Use some time before your chosen date to prepare.

First decide what you want to include in your capsule. Think about what has changed since you were young and talk to your children about what they like to know. Common things to include are newspapers, pictures, and popular trinkets from that year. Toys, hand prints, and other personal treasures are neat additions. Be sure what you put in there isn't going to rot or damage the other contents.

Have the kids write letters to their future selves or children about what where the world is and their hopes for the future. Remind them to talk about the foods, prices, music and other trends of the time. The pictures can be of the family, the president, and famous people. Black and white photos tend to age better so consider using them. Around the start of the new year papers often do a year in review article. Including that will sum up all the effents that made an impact on the nation or world. This is a great find for future generations.

Next, think about how long you want to have the capsule tucked away and where. If you aren't burying it in a yard then your choice of container is a bit more open. The same is true if you are only burying it for a shorter time like a year or 5 years. If you are just putting it on a shelf until next year, then a shoebox may be fine. But ideally you will want a container that can withstand the elements. You can use a fireproof lock box, a coffee can or a plastic container.

Once you have gathered your treasures you may want to add an extra level of protection by putting them into waterproof plastic bags. Freezer bags are great for this. Get out as much air as you can before sealing them.  The use a permanent marker to write what's in the bag and maybe who selected it. It is also a good idea to enclose a written out inventory to include in the capsule.

Seal your capsule tightly. Make sure the sealant works with your material. You want as air and water tight a seal as possible to keep your treasures safe. Bury or place your capsule in a safe but not forgotten location. Remember that kids can get curious so don't put it where they may be tempted to peek early. Leave a map or note  so that if you move or other life change happens the capsule isn't lost or forgotten.

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