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Start a Memory Jar for the New Year

Begin a creative new family tradition

By Carissa Garabedian, Publisher of Macaroni Kid Richmond, VA December 29, 2022

Here is a neat way to start off the year. Even kids mention how fast time is going, and this will be a way to help hold onto some memories of the current year. It is sometimes hard to recall the things you did and the moments that mattered. Even the special small moments can now be recorded along with the milestones. 

It's easy to do, just decorate a jar or vase and keep it in an open space that everyone has access to. Have slips of paper and a writing utensil nearby. I am keeping our jar in the kitchen area. When you have a moment you want to remember, or at least once a week, drop pieces of paper about them in the jar. Things to write down include any special moments, memories, experiences, and laughs.

On New Year's Eve or New Years Day, spend some time with your family reading all that was shared inside. When you are done reading the notes, you can place them all in a large plastic zipper bag and label with the year or even place into a photo album for the year.

Some other ideas for this new tradition are to use a journal and write in that instead. Or you could have one jar or journal for each child in the family. Any way you do it, it is a fun and simple way to help archive the little things that matter. 

I am starting ours today!