Looking for a fun, low-cost activity that the whole family can get involved in? Making a time capsule with your kids is a lovely way to capture a moment in your family’s life and leave a little surprise for the future. All you need is a container, a few household treasures, and a hiding spot patient enough to keep the secret.
Here’s how to make a time capsule with kids, along with plenty of ideas for what to put inside.
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What Is a Time Capsule?
A time capsule is a container filled with everyday items from right now — things like photos, letters, newspaper clippings or small mementos — which is then hidden away, either tucked into a cupboard or buried in the garden, and opened again after a set amount of time. It’s a little gift from your present self to your future self.
There are no strict rules. It can be as simple as a shoebox stored at the back of a wardrobe, or a sturdier, weatherproof box buried outdoors. You choose how long it stays hidden, who eventually gets to open it, and — the fun part — exactly what goes inside.
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What to Use as a Container
The container you pick depends on where you plan to store or hide your time capsule.
- For indoor storage, a cardboard box (like a shoebox), a wooden box, or a plastic storage container all work well. Once it’s filled, you can wrap and seal it like a present.
- For burying in the garden or storing outdoors, choose something weatherproof — airtight and watertight — made from a material suited to being buried, such as stainless steel.
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Time Capsule Ideas: What to Include
Here’s where the fun really begins. A time capsule is really a snapshot of “right now,” so think about the things that capture this moment in your child’s life:
Print off our Free Downloadable Time Capsule Sheet and fill it in together, noting today’s date, your child’s name, height, friends, favourite things, hobbies and more.- Trace around your child’s hand on a blank page, and date it.
- Include today’s newspaper, or just the front page.
- Take a few photos of your house, your child’s bedroom, the garden or your street.
- Write a letter to your future self.
- Add tickets or small mementos from day trips or holidays that year.
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Making Your Time Capsule
Once you’ve gathered everything you want to include, it’s time to put it all together. Place your chosen items inside the container and seal it up.
A nice touch, if you’re storing it indoors, is to wrap the box like a present and decorate it before it goes away. Whatever container you use, label it clearly with your child’s name, the date it was sealed, and the date (or occasion) it should be opened.
Then hide it away — and see if you can resist peeking before the big reveal!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a time capsule for kids?
It’s a container filled with present-day items — photos, letters, small keepsakes — that’s sealed and hidden away to be opened again in the future, giving kids a fun way to look back on this stage of their lives.
What should I put in a kids’ time capsule?
Popular choices include a filled-in details sheet with your child’s height, friends and favourites, a hand tracing, photos of home and family, a letter to their future self, and small mementos from the year like tickets or trinkets.
How long should a time capsule stay sealed?
There’s no set rule — some families choose a year, others wait five or ten years, or pick a milestone like a birthday or the start of secondary school. It’s entirely up to you.
What container should I use for a time capsule?
For indoor storage, any sturdy box will do. If you plan to bury it outdoors, use an airtight, waterproof container made from a durable material such as stainless steel.
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Save This Idea for Later
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