These Great Memory Box Ideas will help you to create a fun kids memory box full of keepsakes. It is like a time capsule of items that were special to the child, and they can look at them in a year or when they are adults!
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- Cute Craft Alert: A box full of memories for kids!
- Supplies for a Memory Box for Kids
- Steps to Make a Children’s Memory Box
- Tips for a Memory Box
- Craft Variations on a Kids Memory Box
- FAQ about a DIY memory box
- More DIY Memory Collections for Kids
- Come join the fun at WTN!
- More Crafts!
- Memory Box Ideas for Creating a Kids Memory Box!
Cute Craft Alert: A box full of memories for kids!
We made a memory box in a large plastic tub for each of our kids. In the tubs they saved some favorite items over their growing up years.
We popped them open for the grandkids to see this past Christmas. Such fun memories and stories as we brought the items out- stuffed animals, craft items, sports medals, etc.
We also buried time capsules when the kids were little and dug them up a couple years ago! They buried butter tubs and tin boxes of special treasures to see in the future.
Both options work with these memory box ideas and instructions. Have fun!!
Supplies for a Memory Box for Kids
Here are a few quick notes about the supplies you will need to make this personalized memory box!
- Box- Use a shoebox, a watertight box, or a larger tote depending on your purpose for the memory box.
- Items to place in the box- There is a list of ideas in the instructions below. Help your child gather special memory box keepsakes.
- Tape- Use plastic bags and duct tape to encase a box to bury as a time capsule.
- Spade- Use a Spade to dig a hole if making a time capsule to bury
Steps to Make a Children’s Memory Box
Memory Box Ideas
First you need to decide on the purpose of your memory box.
Do you want a box full of items to sit on a shelf and open in a year, a fun short-term project?
If so, you could use a shoe box to fill with keepsakes. The video shoes this option first.
Do you want a box full of items to bury outside as a time capsule and open in a year or more?
If so, you will want to find a more watertight box to pack with your mementos. Something like a Tupperware container (this company is sadly going out of business) worked well for me. We also tried a tin container with tin lid. It rusted but worked OK. The video shows this option second.
Do you want a box to place items in over a long time, a memory box for the child’s growing up years?
If so, you will want to purchase a large tote that will hold more items. I purchased a Rubbermaid tote in the 18 gallon size. The video shows this option last.
Ideas for a 1 year personalized keepsake box
Let children or grandchildren help you gather their special items. Items that they would like to see again in a year or so.
Ideas for a memory box- sports jerseys or t-shirts, medals, toys, crafts, artwork, schoolwork, special recognition papers, hobby keepsakes, travel souvenirs, nature finds, pictures, jewelry, money, etc.
Sometimes it is hard for a child to choose. The shoe box size limits the number of items and teaches the child to discern what is more important to them.
I would recommend wrapping the box in paper and labeling it with a date for opening. This might decrease the temptation to open it up early! The video shows how to wrap a package at the end.
How to make a time capsule
Fill the waterproof box with mementos. Then wrap it again in plastic bags and duct tape to keep water out.
Water still may leak into the container over time. But our kids were still excited to dig them up! We got a lot of laughs from what they thought was important to save when they were young.
Find a good place (approved by parents) where the child can dig a hole and bury the box. This takes some determination! Mark the location with a stone or remember with a landmark.
How to make a children’s long term memory box
A long-term memory box for childhood takes a larger box of course. The 18 gallon tote was perfect for us. This gave us room for many items but also limited how much we could save.
I do need to be clear that we had a separate box for the girls American Girl doll and the boys hobby equipment. They wanted those items for their own children.
Also, I made a separate notebook for some various schoolwork (papers) and a separate notebook for some photos.
Each person and family will be different in what they want to keep. I just wanted to warn you that sometimes adult children do not want many boxes and notebooks of items from their childhood! I found that my adult children did not want as much of their childhood stuff as I thought. They are all minimalists and sorted through the keepsakes, enjoyed the memories, and then gave some away.
Tips for a Memory Box
- Wrap the box- It may help to wrap the shoe box in paper so it isn't a temptation to open it early.
- Label- Label the box with the child's name and the date to open. Place this date on your calendar with a notice so you remember to open it.
- Boxes- Look for boxes at the thrift store or garage sales to minimize cost. A large tote is a long term investment and worth purchasing.
Craft Variations on a Kids Memory Box
Here are a few variations you’re welcome to try with a time box:
- Specialized memory boxes- You could make a school memory box, travel memory box, baby memory box, etc. This helps contain certain types of mementoes.
- Memorial boxes- Make a special memory box at the passing of a person or the passing of a pet. These boxes may help with the grief process.
FAQ about a DIY memory box
The fun of this project is that you and the child get to choose what goes in your memory box or time capsule. The post above has more ideas but here are a few ideas. Baby shoes, baby outfit, dance costume, toys, stuffed animals, schoolwork, artwork, crafts, nature items, pictures, souvenirs. Enjoy the process of collecting items.
Choose a container, fill the container with special items, close it up and put it away for a later date to open. Use a water tight container for a time capsule that you'll bury.
More DIY Memory Collections for Kids
Looking for more great DIY ways to store or display items for kids? Here are a few favorites for you to try:
- DIY Childrens Art Portfolio to Save and Share Kid's Artwork
- Fast Upcycled Picture Frame for Photo/Art Display
- DIY Fabric Bulletin Board with Foam Core
- How to Creatively Use and Store Children's Artwork
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Try this craft, leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
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Memory Box Ideas for Creating a Kids Memory Box!
Equipment
- Spade Use a Spade to dig a hole if making a time capsule to bury
Items Required
- a shoebox, a watertight box, or a larger tote depending on your purpose for the memory box
- Items to place in the box There is a list of ideas in the instructions below
- plastic bags and duct tape encase a box to bury as a time capsule
Instructions
- First you need to decide on the purpose of your memory box. Do you want a box full of items to sit on a shelf and open in a year, a fun short-term project? If so, you could use a shoe box to fill with keepsakes. The video shoes this option first.Do you want a box full of items to bury outside as a time capsule and open in a year or more? If so, you will want to find a more watertight box to pack with your mementos. The video shows this option second.Do you want a box to place items in over a long time, a memory box for the child’s growing up years? If so, you will want to purchase a large tote that will hold more items. I purchased a Rubbermaid tote in the 18 gallon size. The video shows this option last.
Ideas for a 1 year personalized keepsake box
- Let children or grandchildren help you gather their special items. Items that they would like to see again in a year or so. Pack into a shoe box size box.Ideas for a memory box- sports jerseys or t-shirts, medals, toys, crafts, artwork, schoolwork, special recognition papers, hobby keepsakes, travel souvenirs, nature finds, pictures, jewelry, money, etc. I would recommend wrapping the box in paper and labeling it with a date for opening.
How to make a time capsule memory box
- Fill the waterproof box with mementos. Then wrap it again in plastic bags and duct tape to keep water out.Water still may leak into the container over time. But our kids were still excited to dig them up! We got a lot of laughs from what they thought was important to save when they were young.Find a good place (approved by parents) where the child dig a hole and bury the box. This takes some determination! Mark the location with a stone or remember with a landmark.
Tips for a children’s long term memory box
- A long-term memory box for childhood takes a larger box of course. The 18 gallon tote was perfect for us. This gave us room for many items but also limited how much we could save.I do need to be clear that we had a separate box for the girls American Girl doll and the boys hobby equipment. They wanted those items for their own children to play with. Also, I made a separate notebook for some various schoolwork (papers) and a separate notebook for some photos. Each person and family will be different in what they want to keep. I just wanted to warn you that sometimes adult children do not want many boxes and notebooks of items from their childhood! I found that my adult children did not want as much of their childhood stuff as I thought. They are all minimalists and sorted through the keepsakes, enjoyed the memories, and then gave some away.
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