Escape room games are the latest trend it seems. Some 10 years ago, you had a hard time finding one. Nowadays, it seems like they are everywhere. In fact, there are more than 8,000 escape rooms worldwide. Everyone can play an escape room, and learn something while doing it. With that in mind, what are the 10 things kids can learn playing escape room games?
While some would say escape room games are not for children, you can easily modify the game to fit their age. Or find an escape room for kids. Escape rooms boost engagement and problem-solving thinking in kids. The biggest challenge is to get them to use the tools to solve puzzles.
Kids and Escape Room, what you need to know?
As we mentioned, most escape room games you will find have lower age limit. And let’s be honest, you do not want your kid entering a bloody room. Most rooms require kids to be at least 12 years old to play alone. Kids younger than that, need to be accompanied by an adult. Puzzles require a bit more brain and thinking, and that is where adults come in.
Another problem with kids in an escape room is that they are being locked in for one hour. That can be a scary and traumatic experience if they are not prepared. With that in mind, here are a couple suggestions for how to make the escape room experience enjoyable for your kids.
- Make sure that the room is age appropriate for your id
- Choose an easier room that you can attempt with your kid together
- Allow your kids a chance to solve the puzzle
- Guide your kids in the right direction, and try to explain them the hints the game master gives you
- Let your kids soak in the experience, and enjoy the room
- Give kids roles to play, for example, assign a kid to check the bookcase for clues
- Be persistent in your directions and encouragement
- Keep the energy level high
- Be patient, do not expect kids to solve puzzles in minutes
- Last, but not least, celebrate the victory at every solved puzzle or task
What is a kid-friendly escape room?
A kid-friendly escape room is just what it sounds like. In other words, escape room where younger kids have fun and great time playing. Here are some tips for what to look:
- Thrilling storylines and intriguing puzzles
- Focus on stories about action and fantasy, not scarier stories
- Puzzles that leave kids hungry for the answer
- Ability to work together as a team to solve tasks
Why bring kids to an escape room?
We are now at the part of what are the 10 things kids can learn playing escape room. Or in other words, why you should take your kids to an escape room.
Develop teamwork skills
In an escape room, the goal is to work together and solve puzzles and finish tasks. Kids work together to accomplish a common goal. Kids can play together with other kids, or with their parents. Either way, they have to work as a team, and develop teamwork skills. Kids are left to use each other their own skills, but work as a team towards the common goal.
Encourage critical thinking
In an escape room, the game master gives you direction and instructions. However, you are left on your own to figure out puzzles, challenges, and find clues. Both kids and adults have to use their critical thinking skills to figure out the answer. Most importantly, they have to think outside of the box and their comfort zone. Thinking outside of the box improves the range of solutions they will find for other challenges in life.
Interactive
Escape rooms are interactive and fun. Every challenge is different, but they are all interactive. For example, kids have to figure out a secret code, and then use it to solve a challenge. Escape rooms are everything but boring.
Kids work on actual skills
If you want, you can design your very own escape room game. And you can put the kids into the challenge of learning and working on actual skills. For example, you can incorporate topics and curriculum right into the actual puzzles and challenges. You can put kids to a task of learning many different skills, from executive functioning skills, to much more. When kids work on actual skills, the game becomes meaningful and memorable.
Kids develop leadership skills
When the game room is designed to fit kids and their needs, they are doing all the work. And they become leaders, as they are completely in charge. In a classroom, kids are not in charge, and their leadership skills are not put to test that often. Yes, they can work on projects and so on, but they are rarely in charge. In an escape room, they become leaders instead of relying on adults to help them.
Practice communication skills
When you are in a room with other people, and you have to spend quite some time there, it is bound to happen. You have to talk to somebody every now and then. Truth be told, kids usually do not have troubles talking. But working on your communication skills is always a good idea.
Not only kids learn to talk in an escape room, they also have to listen. Everyone cannot speak at the same time. And that is where magic happens. Escape room brings opportunity to see the value in contribution from others, listen to others, and speak your mind when needed.
Build perseverance
Some kids quit sooner rather than later, while others play till the very end. And if you go to an escape room often, you will learn that quitting doesn’t solve anything. Instead, you have to fight till the very end, and try to figure out the answer.
Escape room put the kids in a position to figure out every single challenge. Adults, or teachers, can provide clue cards and directions. But at the end of the day, kids have to figure out everything on their own. And that means keep trying until you get the right answer.
Learn specific topics
We mentioned previously that you can tailor the escape room as you wish. And that means you can design and adjust the room to help kids learn a specific topic. For example, you can make an escape room about buses, how factories work, or anything what you think will be a good topic.
Develop attention to detail skill
When you enter an escape room, there are tons of details everywhere around you. Some of them are of real value, while others are not. But everything in the room is put there with a purpose. Nothing is there by chance. When kids play an escape room, they have to pay special attention to every detail. Missing on a single detail can throw you off of the game.
Learn to follow directions
A lot of kids have this problem when they are young. Some of them are just stubborn and want to do things their own way. But in an escape room, there are directions you have to follow. Usually, these directions are given at the beginning of the game.
