Preserving Memories with a
Covid Time Capsule
major news events like 9/11, the challenger explosion, the 2008 economic recession, and now, a pandemic mark our lives. It’s a crazy time! COVID-19 is affecting almost every part of our daily life. Years from now, our children will tell their grandchildren about living through the 2020 pandemic. Eventually, it will be a distant memory even if that day seems far off. An inexpensive and fun family project that will help us remember this moment in time is building a Covid Family Time Capsule. Yes, you will have digital memories: photos and videos you’ve recorded from the past two months. But having a tangible reminder of this time is a different experience than looking at pictures or videos on your phone or iPad. The process is simple, gather items of significance to your family that will remind you of this point in time to be safely buried or stored away. Then, choose a time in the future to open the capsule as a family. Choose your container based on how you will store your time capsule. If you want to go all in, purchase a waterproof, stainless steel capsule that can be buried safely for many years (available from Amazon.com). If your capsule will reside in the attic or a storage closet, a sturdy box will suffice.
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You can exercise your creativity and decorate the container itself or simply label it “Covid-19 Time Capsule” with the date to be opened.
• Things you could include: • A “porch photo.” These photos of families assembled on their front porch or near their front door have become quite popular while we shelter at home. You can set up your phone on a timer or enlist a friend or neighbor to take the photo from a safe distance. • A newspaper. If you have a copy of the Salinas Californian or Monterey Herald from the first day of shelter in place (March 17), that would make a great addition. Or print a few of the important stories from the pandemic found on the newspaper’s website. • Journal entries or a written record of time sheltering. Ask the kids to write a short essay about what it’s been like to be at home with family 24/7. For those too young to write, ask them leading questions, and write the answers for them. Make sure mom and dad get into the act with essays of their own. Be honest–talk about the good and the bad. • Have the kids draw a map of the house. Where are they doing their
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school work? Which room has become the office for mom or dad? Where are you gathering to play games and read? Family letters. Ask each family member to write a letter to their future self at the age they will be when the capsule is opened. Where do you hope to be, and what do you expect to be doing? A scorecard from a game you played as a family Handprint tracing of each family member A list of the shows you watched on TV A list of things you are looking forward to when the shelter in place is lifted A mask, a 6-foot piece of string (a reminder of socially distancing), a square of toilet paper, or other tangible symbols of time sheltering in place Homeschooling schedule Food delivery order sheet
A COVID time capsule is a great way to capture memories during this unprecedented time. It also serves as a useful exercise in exploring feelings and creating a space for your family members to discuss what sheltering in place has been like for each of you. MONTEREY BAY PARENT • june 2020
