Easy Family Time Capsule for New Year’s Eve

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This is a blast from the past! We first made a Famile Time Capsule in 2011! Every couple of years we add another one. It is a fun way to review the year and also track how we have grown and as a family. This activity can be done as a New Year’s Eve Activity or a New’s Day Activity (or any time between Christmas and January!

time capsule for new years eve

Why Create a Time Capsule for 2020?

To be brief: because 2020 is a historical year. There is no doubt about it. And it makes for a fascinating year in your personal and family history.

There is no doubt that 2020 has been difficult – for some it has been worse for others. I hope very much that you haven’t been affected directly by the death of a loved one or that you have not had financial worries this year too. There is nothing that can be said to make those kind of challenges any better. All I can say is: I hope you and your loved ones are ok.

A time capsule I still think has a place this year – documenting your experiences throughout 2020 – however hard they may have been. For many of us, there will have been many silver linings too, and I do think it would be lovely to capture those. E.g.:

  • Spending more time with your kids
  • Seeing communities come together to bring cheer to their neighbourhoods (we had lots of fun with Boo Your Neighbours at Halloween)
  • A year to slow down and reflect
  • A year to watch your plants grow
  • Many have had a new pet this year

What has been YOUR silver lining for 2020?

What do you need to make a Time Capsule?

Any air tight container – it could be a jar (like we used) or a tin. It can be as big or small as you like! We opten for small, so we can store it better!

Do I have to bury my Time Capsule?

No!

Of course you can bury your time capsule if you wish – be sure to only do this on private property! Though we keep ours on a shelf in my office. It is totally up to you where you put it!

What items would you consider adding to your 2020 time capsule?

What items represent 2020 to you the most? For me it would be:

  • Facemasks (irrispective of whether you are supportive of them or not, they are a feature of 2020)
  • Hand santiser (I may add an empty bottle… the full ones are too precious)
  • A toilet paper roll (joke! our time capsule isn’t big enough.. but maybe I will add some mini ones)
  • A packed of flower seeds (my kids spent a lot of the summer collecting wild flower seeds, that we packed up and will distribute next summer)

What else would you add? What is personal to your family and your experience?

You may also like to add:

  • An about me mini book or drawing
  • List of hobbies/ dreams/ friends
  • Family photos of key events
  • Newspaper articles

How we first approached our Time Capsule in 2011

Last year I saw wonderful Time Capsule over at Kelli Crowe and her wonderful photos of her time capsule (and family) have since being doing the internet rounds. This year I wanted to have a go with my family too. Today, on New Year’s Eve, we had a busy afternoon out in the park with friends, lighting small fire works, sparklers and popping party poppers to celebrate the Year End. So when we came home, there was only time to get this ready.

Tomorrow, we will sit in front of our Christmas Tree and we will fill our Time Capsule jar with special items to remember 2011 by and celebrate and welcome the New Year… I love how it kind of doubles up as a little photo frame too.

I wonder what the children will choose!

What are your New Year’s Eve crafts and traditions?

Time Capsule Alternatives

You can do a reverse time capsule:

Add a photo on the 1st January and “collect” memories as the year goes along. Then review these memories on New Year’s Eve of that year and see what you have done throughout that year!

More New Year’s Eve Countdown Ideas

This is part of our great New Year’s Eve Countdown for Kids – check out our hourly activity plan that we have put together to make New Year’s Eve extra fun and stress free:

Over 12 activity ideas, with a choice of printables for almost each activity!