What Age is Best for Escape Rooms?

Fun With The Whole Family

February 23, 2023
Insider

There's no denying the fact that children are spending more time in front of a screen than ever before. As a parent, you likely do your best to construct creative ways to get your children up and moving without a need for their phones or gaming consoles. Fortunately, escape rooms can be a great tool to add to your chest of prospective activities.

What is an Escape Room?

As escape rooms have started to become a staple across the country, more and more people are eager to discover just what they are. Escape rooms are, essentially, real-life gaming environments. You and your group are placed in a room where you must solve a series of puzzles based on the information contained within the room. Many escape rooms will even have multiple rooms that will be visited on your journey. You'll have a set amount of time to complete your task and decipher the clues to find your way out of the escape room. Most escape room centers will have multiple gaming environments so that you can test your detective skills over and over again.

Should You Take Your Kids to an Escape Room?

Ultimately, the answer to this question will really be up to you and your child. Some children thrive in this type of environment as they're forced into a real-life mystery. However, other children may find it hard to participate consistently within a one-room environment. When it comes to age, many parents note that they recommend taking children 10 years of age or older. At this age, children are more prone to stay focused on the game and enjoy it throughout. However, remember that every child is different, and you're the best one to make a judgment call about your individual child.

Choosing an Appropriate Game

When you visit an escape room center, there will likely be multiple game rooms that you can choose from. For example, they may have a pharaoh's curse in one room and a London murder mystery in the other. You should take a moment to read through each game to determine which one will best fit your family's skills and interests.

View of the Antechamber in Pharaoh's Lost Relic - Hour to Midnight
Difficulty Level

Each escape room will have a difficulty rating. The higher the rating, the harder the clues are to decipher. When you're choosing a game for your children, it's best to opt for a lower and easier difficulty level. You want them to remain active in the game and not get completely frustrated and give up.

Game Theme

Another factor that you'll want to consider is the theme of the game. Try to choose something that your child is interested in. For example, if they're astonished by Egyptian history, then opting for a pharaoh's curse game room can be a great way to get them immersed into an environment that will be sure to amaze and steal their attention.

Benefits of Escape Rooms for Children

If you're on the fence about whether or not your child may enjoy this type of environment, you're not alone. To help in your decision, we're going to share with you a few different benefits that your child and your family can gain from enjoying an escape room game together.

A Truly Unique Bonding Experience

An escape room can create an environment unlike any other that you and your children have experienced. This new environment and task can be the perfect way for you to bond over doing something new. You can work beside your child and help them through figuring out the clues and enhance their confidence and problem-solving skills.

Enhance Mathematics and Logistical Skills

An escape room can be a great way to help your child develop their logistical and mathematical skills in a fun and immersive way. Many escape rooms will require your group to do mathematics to figure out clues. This is a great time to allow your child to show off their skills and help them when necessary. Additionally, letting your child use their own logistical skills and just being there to guide them when they go astray is pertinent to helping them develop as a leader.

Create a Memorable Moment

If you ask your child about the video game they were playing last Thursday, they probably won't even remember what it was or who they were playing with. Your children are likely used to doing the same old things day after day. An escape room is a perfect way to throw something new into the mix and craft a memorable experience that they'll remember. It may even end up there next to those moments of spending time at the beach. As a parent, you're always on the lookout for new adventures to indulge your family with. An escape room may be the perfect solution for your family, depending on your child's age and abilities. You'll be sure to create the setting for a one-of-a-kind family memory for all.

If you’re looking for an escape room experience in the Portland Metro area then click the link below to learn more about the escape room games that Hour To Midnight has to offer:

https://www.hourtomidnight.com

Edited by:
Tom Johnson
René Belloq

René  studied archaeology at the Sorbonne where he went on to win the Archaeological Society Prize. He also had a career at the Louvre.

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