Time goes by too fast. Before we know it, our children are already young adults. That’s why, besides fully experiencing every moment with them, we need to hold on to the memories of their childhood in every phase of their lives.
What adult doesn’t like to see a photo album from when they were a child? Birth, baptism, first steps, the affection of their family, first day at school, trips, First Communion … Each record holds the memory of important and unique moments.
The most familiar ways of holding on to these moments are photo albums (although they are becoming considered “passé” by some people in this digital world) and scrap books. But there are other creative ways to record and preserve these memories of our children.
Here are 5 that will help you stay connected to the past and relive special moments.
1A FRAMED OR BOXED COLLECTION
You can collect objects important to your baby’s early years and frame them. Examples include your little princess’s first dress, clothes from the baptism, their first shoe, a gift from their godparents, an ultrasound photo, etc.
If you want to hold on to more things, we suggest a box of memories. Get a box (it can even be made of wood), decorate it appropriately, and store everything that was important in the first years of your son’s or daughter’s life. Besides the objects we’ve already mentioned, you can include their first tooth, a lock of their hair, their first toy, and even a photo album.
2TIME CAPSULE
Gather photos and toys, and ask your children to write a letter to themselves. They will read it when they are adults. Everyone in the family can join in the fun by writing, for example, about what it’s like to live in the present era and details of family life. Including a page from a current newspaper is also nice.
Another idea: family members can write notes to each other to be read in the future! Collect all the material, and put it in a well-sealed and labeled box or bottle. Set a date when the capsule will be opened (for example, Christmas 2052) and keep it in a safe place or bury it in the garden. Now just wait for the time to pass, and open the capsule!
3A PLAYLIST
Make a selection of the songs that marked your children’s childhood. Which lullabies did they like best? Which cartoon theme did they sing along to? What was their favorite song on that special trip? And which one did everyone in the family sing together? Put them all together in a playlist on an online platform—or if you feel safer, save the selection on other devices.
4A HOME MOVIE
You know all those videos you’ve been recording on your cell phone? Gather them all together and make a nice edit. There are applications that help turn these videos into a fun and exciting movie! The tip is to wait until your child is a little older to include scenes from the various stages of their life. Your children will love watching this feature film as adults. Your grandchildren will be thrilled to see it when they are grown up.
5AN ORIGINAL SONG OR A PARODY
Invite the children together to create a song, poem, or parody song that reveals the characteristics of their childhood. Make sure they make it truly their own and do it from the heart! In this task, simplicity and creativity can accomplish the goal of eternalizing childhood memories, as well as bringing out tears and hearty laughter!
And today we celebrate...