Remembering Family Fun Long After It's Done

Driving by the local high school this morning, I was jolted into reality by the school sign announcing that the first day of school is only 3 weeks away.  Summer vacation is fleeting!  But fortunately, there is still some time to celebrate summer with your kids before the school year schedule takes over.
 
By now, your family has probably had a few vacation adventures, and although we take more pictures than ever, they rarely make it off our devices and into photo albums or scrapbooks.  As convenient as technology makes it to store our memories, sometimes the tangible evidence of our adventures get stuck in the cloud or on older devices that we no longer use.  This summer, why not engage your children in an activity that will be a future reminder of family vacation fun?  Why not create a time capsule?
 
Building a time capsule is a fun activity in and of itself, but the real joy comes when you open it at a later time and relive your summer escapades all over again.  When you open your time capsule is up to you, but for the greatest impact, consider the following suggestions:

• The opening date is decided and agreed upon by everyone before the time capsule is created. It is then written on the front of time capsule so it isn’t forgotten.

 

• Pick an opening date that is far enough away so your memories of the contents have faded a bit, but not so far out that the activities seem irrelevant.  My suggestion is to open it on the last day of the coming school year.  Use the opening to celebrate the start of summer vacation and also be reminded of all the fun activities that summer brings.

 

• Everyone in the family gets to put something special to them in the capsule.  Photos, souvenirs, ticket stubs, and copies of journal entries are all items that work well in a time capsule.  My personal favorite is adding framed pictures.  It’s fun to make homemade frames out of popsicle sticks or seashells.  After the time capsule is opened, you can display the pictures in your home.

 
For those of you who have read my children’s novel, Time Twisted, the time capsule idea will be familiar.  But, no matter what, it’s a fun activity that captures the imaginations of adults and kids alike.
 
Kelly McIntire is a children’s author who believes that magic and adventure should begin in childhood and last a lifetime.  Her books include Time Twisted and Adventures in Fairy Meadow.  Visit her website at www.kellymcintireonline.com for more information.

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