Baby's Time Capsule

Details | Sealing and Storing | Important | Opening | Check List Suggestions | Letters to the Future | Wedding

SAVE TREASURED MEMORIES FOR YOUR BABY

Imagine opening a time capsule from the year you were born, created for you by your parents. What sorts of things would you like to find? Wouldn't it be incredible to see what your parents' daily life was like, have a Letter to the Future from your grandmother, or a even a mint condition new car brochure from that year?

Your parents may not have created one for you, but we have made it easy for you to create one for your child. Parents fill the best-selling Baby's Time Capsule full of memorabilia from their baby's birth year and then seal it until years in the future, perhaps when the baby is 16- or 21-years old.

The 22-piece kit includes the memory book, "What Life Was Like the Year You Were Born," which covers every aspect of that incredible year--from fashion to the top-10 movies; a "How to" book, full of creative and fun ideas; a "Do Not Open Until..." sticker; official Time Capsule seals; and an individually numbered certificate. Six Letters to the Future, also included, enable grandparents and other family members to become involved by writing letters to the baby, which are sealed in the matching envelopes and not read until the Time Capsule is opened.

As we approach the eve of a new millennium, there is no better time than now to create a Time Capsule for your child. Every baby born should have a Time Capsule created especially for him or her.

We make it easy to create a wonderful heirloom that will be treasured for years to come--
and make it fun to do in the process.

How to Seal and Store Your Time Capsule

It will be up to you to determine when to seal your Time Capsule. To ensure its successful completion, however, we recommend that all information and contents gathering be completed by the end of the specific milestone year. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to finish this unique project.

Sealing the time capsule is easy. While your Time Capsule is designed to protect its contents from the elements, you should line it with a plastic bag before placing items inside. Wrap all delicate items securely in shock-absorbing material. After you've placed all you want to include inside, fill empty areas with wadded paper or tissue to prevent movement. And remember, don't place food or liquid inside your Time Capsule. When you're satisfied that the capsule is firmly packed, tie the top of the bag.

Now you are ready to seal the capsule. Push the lid down securely and affix the seals (included in your kit) to each side of your Time Capsule. Overlap the lip, where the lid and the capsule meet. As an extra precaution, you can also run a strip of tape around the lid and then place the seals on top of the tape.

Finally, put the "Do Not Open Until..." date on the lid. The wedding time capsule comes with an embossed lid. Use the number and letter stickers provided to indicate the abbreviated month, day, and year that you plan to open your Time Capsule.

Do Not Bury Your Time Capsule!!!!!

No Time Capsule should ever be buried. This popular belief is the worst thing you could do to your memorabilia. Burying your capsule could cause moisture damage over time. And if yours is like the majority of U.S. households, you'll likely be living somewhere else - perhaps hundreds of miles away - by the time you've elected to open this information treasure. You wouldn't want to run the risk of losing or damaging it. The International Time Capsule Society also estimates that over 90% of all time capsules ever created have been lost!

We suggest that you leave your Time Capsule on a bookshelf or on display as a conversation piece. Or place the capsule in a heated closet or room. Wherever you choose to store the capsule, make certain that it is in a cool, dry place - with a room temperature of 50 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the capsule away from direct sunlight, and avoid placing in the attic.

The more care you take in packing, sealing and storing your Time Capsule, the happier you will be when it comes time to explore its special contents.

Choosing an Opening Date for Your Baby's Time Capsule

When to open your Time Capsule is a matter of personal choice. Some people chose to never even seal their capsules, they use them more as 3D memory books. A time capsule is meant to capture a moment in time--sealing it mearly allows you to forget it's contents and surprise yourself when you open the capsule years in the future. This is the closest thing we have to time travel, and it definitely makes your celebration more enjoyable.

The bottom line is that there are no rules--do whatever you feel most strongly about. If you do choose to seal your Time Capsule however, we recommend that you wait at least 16 years before allowing your child to open his or her Baby's Time Capsule. This time frame will ensure that a variety of change has taken place-and that your child will be old enough to appreciate the effort that has gone into preparing it as well as the intrinsic value of its contents. Here are a few suggestions:

16th BIRTHDAY
Other than becoming a teenager, this is the first age milestone that recognizes your child is nearing adulthood. Historically, 16th birthdays have held special significance in U.S. culture. If your child is of above-average maturity and clearly appreciates items of historical value, his or her 16th birthday could present the opportunity to open Baby's Time Capsule. Caution: Opening Baby's Time Capsule at this early age could minimize the overall impact if your child is not old enough to fully appreciate its significance.

18th BIRTHDAY
This, the age of legal adulthood in the United States, could present a fine opportunity to open Baby's Time Capsule. Maybe your child will be headed off to college-or that first apartment. You may want to open the capsule in conjunction with your child's high school graduation celebration. Once again, this timing would be acceptable only if your child is clearly more mature than most contemporaries.

21st BIRTHDAY
As another cultural milestone, your child's 21st birthday could very well be the ideal opening date. College graduation day-or the day your child lands his or her first "real" job-presents a fine opportunity for an opening celebration.

25th BIRTHDAY
This is likely the better age to open Baby's Time Capsule. Most children have completed their education, landed a responsible job, and have begun learning how to manage their personal affairs. Maybe your child will be thinking of marriage or children at this point in life. This is the age at which your child would be most likely to fully appreciate the value of his or her Baby's Time Capsule-and the effort that you took to complete it 25 years ago.

THE DAY YOUR CHILD'S FIRST CHILD (YOUR GRANDCHILD) IS BORN
The arrival of the next generation-the birth of your grandchild-presents the perfect opportunity for your child (an appreciative new parent) to open his or her Baby's Time Capsule. What better way to convey the careful effort and unique perspective that went into the creation of this decades-old commitment? The gift of a Baby's Time Capsule for your newborn grandchild would be a wonderful culmination to your own child's Time Capsule opening ceremony.

Top | Contents | Details | Sealing and Storing | Important | Opening | Check List Suggestions | Letters to the Future | Wedding