Scavenger Hunt
Build a Family Escape Room
Turn one room into a locked-door puzzle and race the clock to get out.
Ages 10 to 15
60 minutes
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Get ready
15 minutes. Hide a few clues in one room while your kid waits outside, or let them build it for you next time.
What you’ll need
Paper, a pen, a small box or bag that zips, a lock with a number code if you have one, and a timer.
Let’s play
1. Pick a goal, like finding the box with tonight’s dessert or the TV remote inside.
2. Write four clues. Each one leads to the next hiding spot or gives one digit of the final code.
3. Set a timer for 30 minutes and let your kid in. You play game master and can give two hints.
4. When they escape, swap roles. They build the room and you try to get out.
5. Talk about which clue was hardest and why.
Your part in the adventure
Game master on round one, player on round two. Ask for a hint like you mean it.
What they’re discovering
They’re reasoning step by step, spotting patterns and designing puzzles that someone else can solve.
Before you begin
Never lock anyone in for real. Keep the door unlocked and hide clues away from heavy shelves and electrical outlets.
Keep the idea going
Ages 8 to 10 do better with picture clues. Ages 13 to 15 can add a cipher or a riddle with two possible answers.
Every child is different. Adjust activities for their age and abilities, and stay close by. These are play ideas, not medical or developmental advice.