Plan Ahead

Team size and selection is an area that has a couple of possibilities and really depends on the make-up of the group. Teams of 2–3 kids work best. I've learned throughout my teaching that any more than 3 divides them up into the working group and the talking/off-task group. Teams of 2-3 allows for collaboration and helps children feel secure, while still keeping things under control. This size also keeps all of them engaged in the task. Decide ahead of time who will be on each team, allowing for no-shows. Involve your child in who they think will work best together if it is a party.

Physical setup and space preparations will be dictated by the type of game and location. Always consider safety, removing breakables and having clear paths for movement. For escape room games, have space for each team to sit and work together, but be away from other teams to keep the answers secret. Always preview the game before playing so you can anticipate areas where the kids may struggle and make sure you understand the answers yourself. 

Timing generally works in one of two ways: set a time limit for the entire game or set a time limit for each portion of the game  For example, with the escape room kits, you can have teams stay on one puzzle for 3–5 minutes before moving to the next, or set a 20-minute limit for completing the entire set of puzzles. An overall time limit can work well with smaller groups, while a puzzle time limit can help keep larger groups moving in an organized manner. 

Game Play for a Smooth Event

During another activity, snack time, or free play, set up the escape room puzzles in the areas you have already decided on.  Bring the group together and explain the basic premise of the game. Announce their teammates and have them get into teams. I learned that if they have to wait to find out their teams, they will be thinking about who is in their group and won't pay attention while you are giving the directions. Also having them sit with their teams means you can have them discuss the directions with their team for any questions. Remember kids love to talk to each other, take advantage of that :) 

Explain traffic flow, time limits and how to use the recording sheets. With younger kids, you may even want to walk through how to move from one puzzle to the next. Even with my middle school students, we would physically walk through any type of movement/regrouping etc. They are used to structure and believe it or not, structure gives them more freedom to enjoy the activity. Tip: The easiest way to move through the puzzles is in numerical order if possible. 

During the game, if you notice teams finishing early, you can adjust the time limit down or vice versa if they need more time. Because the puzzles vary, some are easier to solve than others. As a teacher, it was easy to notice that behavior problems often happen when kids are bored. Having too much time before moving to the next puzzle leads to off-task behaviors. 

Plan for Early Finishers

Almost any game will have early finishers. Planning for this ahead of time will create a calmer environment for everyone. One way to help is to have multiple ways for teams to win—first, second, and third place, the neatest answer sheet, the best teamwork, etc. Requiring them to complete every part of the answer sheet will also build in some time. 

Having extension activities on hand will help fill the gaps of time. You can hand out an activity they can work on if they have time and can carry with them, such as a word search or crossword puzzle. Or you can have extra activities at the stations, such as index cards that say: draw a related picture on the back of your answer sheet, write a themed story or song. Giving out prizes for those who complete these tasks is a motivator to actually do them. One activity I used often in the classroom was for early finishers to make charade cards that can be used later on for group charades. The end result of playing charades was a motivator to make the cards. 

There is no way to plan for every detail of a game, and there will always be surprises. But having a solid plan for the most common situations will help things run more smoothly. 

Ready to host your own escape room game? My printable Escape Room Kits make it easy to get started with minimal prep. Just print, set up, and let the kids solve their way to the final code.