Making a Family Time Capsule

For me, making a Family Time Capsule is one of the most fun ways to get everyone in on the act of preserving family memories. There is something inherently nostalgic about putting together a time capsule. It's even more exciting when you have one to open.

You can purchase waterproof, fireproof containers made specifically for the purpose of preserving mementos, but here is a fun frugal way to accomplish the same goal.

You will need:

• Large Coffee Can, Mayonnaise Jar or Container with a Screw top lid
• Zipper seal plastic bags
• A collection of photos, letters, or anything you can think of that represents you, your family, an era, or an event.
• Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Duct Tape

The most fun way to do this is to tell your kids a few days in advance that you're planning on making a Family Time Capsule. Suggest that they find pictures, and write letters making note of any information that they want passed on about themselves and the family.

Favorite toys, family traditions, pictures of special events, news clippings from current events, and even music CD's can be added as long as your time capsule is big enough.

Bring everyone and everything together at the same time to help pack up the time capsule.

In order to help preserve your mementos you can seal items in baggies being careful not to use anything perishable or that may damage other items in your time capsule. Make sure everything is well labeled. Make note of even the tiniest bit of information about your mementos.

Once you're done labeling and sealing your items, screw the top on your container and duct tape it shut. Now the kids can decorate the outside of the container using the construction paper and glue.

Decide where you're going to keep your time capsule, making sure it can stay cool and dry.

You might consider not telling the kids where it's going to be so they aren't tempted to open it before it's time.