If you have a budding Sherlock on your hands, throwing an escape room birthday party at home is a terrific idea. It’s easy to create your own DIY escape room at home with a few party items and printed clues. Your party guests will go home with a huge sense of achievement and prizes to show their family and friends. To get started on your escape room birthday party, you’ll need:

- A theme
- A storyline
- An objective
- A time limit
- 3-4 puzzles
- A way to celebrate at the end

Ready to create your escape room party? Let’s get started!

## Pick the Escape Room Theme
A birthday escape room always needs to have a theme first. This makes the escape more exciting and draws the participants into the story. Most birthday party escape room themes are either based on a party theme (using cupcakes, popcorn, and balloon-based clues) or another theme that many children like, such as dinosaurs, pirates, fairies, under-the-sea, and even unicorns. Using common items or party kits, it’s easy to match the decorations and invitations for the child’s birthday party to the theme of the escape, and many of these themed items can also be used as puzzles and clues.

 
## Create a Storyline
Next, the escape room will need a storyline based on the theme. For birthday parties, you’ll want a storyline that’s exciting but not scary and motivates the children to [solve puzzles](https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-activities/why-puzzles-are-good-for-your-childs-development/) and win the game. For example:

- Dinosaurs—You are in Jurassic World and the dinosaurs have gone crazy. Open the door to the laboratory and fetch the antidote before it’s too late.
- Pirates—You and your pirate crew have found a treasure chest filled with coins and jewels. Unlock the chest and escape with the booty before you’re caught by the sea police.
- Fairies—You stumble upon a magic forest filled with flowers, toadstools, and strawberries when you hear an enchanting song coming from a tree. Unlock the secret door in the tree to find out what’s on the other side.

You can use children’s stories and even movies to help you create the storyline for your birthday party escape room. It doesn’t have to be overly complex. As long as the children know what their objective is, they’ll be motivated to finish the game.

 

## Define the Escape Room Objective
### Unlock the Door
The most classic objective for an escape room party is to find the key to unlock a door. For older children, you can have them find the actual key for the door (or a copy of the key). For younger kids, you could have them find a key made of clay or pipe cleaners that they have to put in a paper bag or plastic container designated as the “lock box.”

If the game starts at the front door, the objective will be to open the back door and visa-versa. On the other side of the door, you can fill the space with decorations and prizes or a special table with the birthday cake. The surprise that awaits once the door is unlocked is what makes birthday party escape rooms so much fun!

### Open the Box
An alternative objective could be a locked box in the center of the room that the children need to open. This could be decorated as a treasure chest, vault, birthday present, or another kind of box that fits the storyline. Inside, you could hide a special gift for the birthday kid (if they are completing the game alone) or goodie bags for the party guests for a birthday party escape room.

If you have a theme, match the goodie bags and their contents to the theme. For example, pirate-themed bags filled with gold-coin chocolates, dinosaur bags with dinosaur gummies and toy dinosaurs, or fairy show bags with wings, wands, sparkly skirts, and other dress-up items for kids.

 

## Time Limit
Every escape room needs a time limit. The time limit motivates the party guests to [problem-solve](https://www.marlborough.org/news/~board/health-and-wellness/post/why-is-problem-solving-important-in-child-development) and allows you to move on to other games or formalities such as the cutting of the birthday cake. For a birthday party escape room, the time limit could be anywhere between 60 and 90 minutes. This gives the kids enough time to solve the puzzles without feeling stressed or rushed.

While novice escapers might need the entire time allotment, experienced escapers might work through the game in as little as 15 minutes, which makes it especially important to [match the difficulty of the puzzles to the age and experience level of the players](https://questroom.com/blog/age-limit-for-escape-rooms). In some cases, you might need to give the party guests a few extra minutes (or an extra hint) to help them finish the game.

 

## Clues, Puzzles, and Activities
Birthday escape room games usually have 2-3 keys and 3-4 puzzles for children to solve that take them to different places in the room. The first clue should be nearest to the starting door but can still be a little bit hidden so that the guests have to search the room to discover the clue. Whichever kinds of clues and puzzles you use, make sure the places the clues are hidden are safe and that they’re not too obvious so as to give the game away at the start.

### Puzzle Ideas—Easy to Hard
[Digital escape room puzzle ideas](https://questroom.com/blog/digital-escape-room-puzzle-ideas) are usually simple enough that you can print them out and hide them in the room. A clue could be as simple as a picture cut into four pieces or as complex as a message written in invisible ink. Generally, the clue itself will be presented as a puzzle to draw out the fun of the game. This list of ideas should be enough to get your creative juices flowing:

### Clues for Younger Kids
- A picture of the location of the next clue cut into a 2-4 piece puzzle
- A color-by-number picture of the next location
- A picture presented as a dot-to-dot
- Picture-based codes

### Clues for Older Kids
- Riddles
- Tiny messages that can only be read with a magnifying glass
- Messages written backward that can only be read in the mirror
- Messages written in secret codes (numbers to letters, pictures to words, reverse alphabet)
- Messages presented as letters or words that need to be put in order
- Mazes that draw letters or a picture of the next clue’s location
- Word searches (word scrambles) that reveal the location with the letters left over at the end

### The clues—whether pictures, letters, or words—could be hidden inside:
- Balloons (which the children pop)
- Cupcakes (which the children pull apart)
- Gift boxes (separated from the real presents)
- A bucket of popcorn
- A container of slime
- A container in the fridge or freezer

### Hidden Clues:
- Under the sofa
- Under a cushion on the sofa
- On the back of balloons
- On the back of a door
- On the back of the party hats
- On the back of a banner that’s all tangled up

These same locations are also great for hiding the 2-3 keys which can open (or figuratively open) a box or container with a picture of a lock. Ideally, each clue will reveal where the next key is hidden and a further clue provided with each key.

Note: If you place a clue inside something sticky or slimy (such as oobleck!), you’ll need to wrap it inside a plastic bag to prevent the clue from getting soggy.

### Activity Challenges
In addition to mental puzzles, you can also add elements of physical challenge. Laser-beam obstacle courses can easily be created with streamers, or you could create a life-sized maze using cardboard partitions with the key as the goal. The options for activities really are endless! Just make sure they suit the age of the guests and don’t take you out of your budget for the party.
 

## Celebrate the Escape!
Once the children have solved the final clue and opened the door (or unlocked the box), it’s time to celebrate the escape! You could do this by handing out prizes (hidden inside the box or on the other side of the door), giving the children certificates of completion, or taking souvenir photos with photo props like black sunglasses, a magnifying glass, pirate hats, or the fairy wings they found in the show bags. They’ll be keen to show their families their prizes once they get back home.

 

## Example Birthday Party Escape Room
Now that you have an idea of how to build a birthday party escape room, let’s put it all together. This example is based on an under-the-sea theme with four clues and three keys:

## “Shipwrecked” Escape Room
### Storyline
While scuba diving off the coast of Barbados, the birthday kid and their friends have stumbled upon a legendary shipwreck that few believed was real. As the legend goes, there’s a chest full of gold medallions inside that is guarded by the remains of Captain Longbeard. Protecting the shipwreck is the infamous orange octopus known as Tentaculus. In exactly 60 minutes, Tentaculus will awake from his nap and pursue any divers that are still to be seen.

### Objective
To break into the shipwreck and open the chest before Tentaculus wakes up.

### Players
2-6

### Age Range
7-12

## Clues and Keys
### First Clue and First Key
The party guests begin in the backyard, where the location of the first key is presented as scrambled letters taped onto the play equipment. When the children unscramble the letters, they should get the phrase “pot plant,” indicating that the first key is hidden inside a pot plant at the back door.

The children make their way to the back door where they find the first key wedged into the soil of one of the pots and open the back door which has been decorated as the door to the shipwreck. They make their way inside to find the hallway and living room decorated as the interior of the legendary wreck.

### Second Clue
Along the walls of the hallway, they see portals with numbers placed strategically around them. When they write down all of the numbers on a notepad provided near the door (in order), they suspect it might be the combination to a lock and start searching the living room for a combination lock to open.

### Third Clue and Second Key
Eventually, they find a clear plastic Tupperware box under a cushion on the sofa that’s tied up with a bicycle lock. They enter the combination and—surprise!—it opens. Inside the Tupperware box (filled with green slime), they find a piece of paper inside a plastic bag with a riddle on it that will lead them to the next key. The riddle reads:

“A maiden’s head so deathly still

Cold and quiet, yet not ill

Her long tresses(hair) float toward the sky

Hair that burns when it is dry

Food to man and creatures lair

Name both “her” and “her hair.”

The party guests continue searching around the room until they fall upon a corner set up with rocks (“her”) and seaweed (“her hair”). Between the rocks, they find the second key, which allows them to open the grey-painted cardboard vault located in another corner of the room.

### The Final Clue and Key
Once inside the vault, the players find the locked treasure chest in the hands of a very bony Captain Longbeard. On top of the treasure chest is a sign that reads:

“Put the puzzle pieces together to access Captain Longbeard’s treasure.”

Searching around the vault, the children find nine puzzle pieces, which when put together, reveal that the final key is hidden inside Captain Longbeard’s eyepatch. They open the patch to find the key and unlock the chest to discover six small sacks of gold chocolate coins on top of a rainbow of colorful glass gems and stones. Finally, the treasure is theirs!

 

## Loved the Escape?
If your kids loved their birthday party escape room or have already become escape room pros, you could take your birthday party ideas up a notch with a professional escape room birthday party. [Los Angeles escape rooms](https://questroom.com/), including Quest Room, host multiple adventure-themed escape rooms that are suitable for older children and teens and are a lot of fun for the parents as well. [Da Vinci’s Challenge](https://questroom.com/escape-rooms/da-vincis-challenge), [Warlocked](https://questroom.com/escape-rooms/warlocked), and [Red Giant](https://questroom.com/escape-rooms/red-giant) are three of the most highly recommended escape rooms for a party because they come with an intermediate level of challenge and high-quality historical sets.

Above all, an escape room birthday party should be about having fun and sending the kids home with a sense of achievement. If they end up needing that extra hint, be available and prepared to help. They’ll be grateful for being able to find that special birthday gift (or goodie bags, as the case may be) and will still have a great time working their way through the room.



How to Create a DIY Birthday Party Escape Room

Escape room rules are designed to help you stay safe, have a great time, and best of all… win the game! If you’re thinking about playing your first escape room game, knowing the most common escape room rules ahead of time will put you and your team at an advantage and help you make a successful escape.

## Practical Escape Room Rules
These are the rules that keep everyone healthy and happy and the game functioning as it should. Review the following rules carefully to avoid a surprise when you arrive.

### Make a Reservation
Top [Los Angeles escape rooms](https://questroom.com/) can sell out fast, so it’s essential to book before you go. Most escape room games cater to groups of 2-6 people and you can usually modify your booking as long as you don’t exceed the [minimum or the maximum number of players](https://questroom.com/blog/how-many-people-do-you-need-for-an-escape-room). We have some games that can hold 8 players at Quest Room. [DaVinci’s Challenge](https://questroom.com/escape-rooms/da-vincis-challenge) at our Korea Town, LA location can even hold 10!

### Changes to Your Booking…
For reservations that are paid for online, you usually won’t get a discount or refund if you reduce your group size on the day. If you add to your group, you will pay for the difference on arrival. Reservations that are canceled by the provider will either be refunded or a gift token will be provided so that your team can play at a later date.

### Outerwear, Bags, and Large Items
It is essential not to take any outerwear, bags, or large items into the escape room. It can be difficult to navigate the room with these items in the way during the game. Additionally, they can accidentally damage the decorations or props in the room, which can result in extra fees or even the cancellation of the game. 

Most escape rooms have a designated area where you can store your belongings while you play. Ask your game master where to leave your things before the game starts.

### Safety Regulations
The staff is always ready to assist with unforeseen situations. However, players should take precautions to ensure their safety during the game. This includes refraining from playing if feeling unwell, selecting a game in a genre that is more suitable if one is particularly frightened by certain themes, being cautious when interacting with objects related to electricity, watching one's step, avoiding arguments, and keeping a watchful eye on children. At least one accompanying adult is required for kid-friendly rooms.

### Arrive Early
A common escape room rule is to arrive early—at least 15 minutes before your session is scheduled to begin. In these 15 minutes, you’ll have time to go to the bathroom, ask any questions you may have, and discuss your strategy together as a team. You’ll then enter the room and listen to the game master’s introduction. After that, it’s go time!

### If You Are Late…
Because you’re booking a specific time slot, teams or team members who show up late will have less time to complete their game. You might even lose your session completely. As no refunds are issued for missing your slot, choose teammates who are likely to be on time. You could also meet up beforehand for a coffee or meal to give latecomers ample time to arrive.

### Arrive Sober
A meal before an escape game is great. Drinks at a bar before your game aren’t so great. Playing intoxicated or under the influence puts you and your teammates in danger of injury. Let’s face it, a drunk team member won’t bring their A-game when it comes time to solve puzzles and clues. In fact, if they are visibly intoxicated, they might not even be allowed to play.

### One Key - One Lock
Each key can only be used for one lock (to avoid confusion) unless otherwise stated by your game master. Once you've opened the puzzle, keep the key in the lock.

### Use Hints
If you're stuck and need help, don't hesitate to use the unlimited number of hints available for each room. Contact your game master to get advice and keep progressing through the game. Don’t worry, hints are given in character at Quest Room—so it doesn’t pull you out of the story.

## Getting Ready for Your Escape…
When you’ve got an escape room booked, do a bit of research about the kinds of clues you’re likely to find, [put together a comfortable outfit](https://questroom.com/blog/what-to-wear-to-an-escape-room) (or a costume if you’re so inclined!), and come ready to challenge your wits. You’ll have a fun time putting your skills to the test and can celebrate with drinks afterward!

### Go to the Bathroom before Your Session Begins
It might seem obvious, but going to the bathroom before your game is just plain common sense. You don’t want to pay a hundred dollars for a cinema-quality escape experience and miss most of the session by leaving the game to relieve yourself.

### You Can Always Leave
You are always free to leave the game if you have a legitimate emergency—simply exit through the door you came in. However, you might not be allowed back in once you leave, so [prepare ahead](https://questroom.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-escape-room) and only leave if you really must.

### Forbidden Objects
Everything needed for escape room games is located inside the room, so you won’t need to bring tools for researching or writing things down. Many escape room companies (including Quest Room) forbid items like cell phones and cameras because this can be a problem for copyright and security reasons. You will very quickly be ushered out if you’re caught taking photos.

### Dangerous Objects
There are several items that can be dangerous to have on you in an enclosed space, including lighters, vape pens, matches, and knives. If there are any items at all that you need to have with you on the day, leave them with your bag in the locker provided or hand them to a staff member for safekeeping.

### Don’t Move the Furniture
In their fervor to find all the clues in the game room, some players might feel tempted to move the furniture and look for clues underneath, behind, and even on top of each piece. Some rooms instruct the players not to move the furniture to discount this possibility. If this is the case, you can be sure there is nothing hidden behind the bookcase and look for hidden objects elsewhere.

### Don’t Stand on the Furniture
See something that’s out of reach? Rather than climbing up or standing on something, look for a tool to help you reach it. As mentioned earlier, escape rooms are meant to be beaten. The clues should be accessible to all whether you are short or tall. If you need to grab it, there will be a way.

### Don’t Damage Anything
Escape rooms are designed to be beaten by regular people. You won’t be given puzzles or hidden objects that require a bodybuilder or brute force. If you’re not sure if something is supposed to open, simply ask the game master. If not, turn your attention to the other things in the room—the answer might be right under your nose!

### Obey the Signs
Likewise, a sign that says “Do not touch,” “Do not open,” “Do not climb,” or “Not a clue,” is not a red herring or just there for looks. There are some necessary objects in each room such as emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits that might be present but not part of the game. If you interfere with an item that’s off-limits, your team might be asked to leave.

### What You Do There, Stays There
Escape room companies work very hard to create unique escape games that will challenge your wits and delight the senses, knowing that escape aficionados may visit dozens of rooms. So, once you exit the door, it’s “Mom’s the word” on details about the setting, clues, and twists in the plot. You don’t want to spoil the surprise for others who may visit the same room as you!

## Strategic Escape Room Rules
These are the escape room rules that will give you a good chance of escaping the room within the hour. Following rules like these with your team will help you solve the puzzles and escape the room.

### Designate a Clue Repository
At the beginning of the game, designate a central spot where the team members can place the various clues they find. You’ll save a lot of time spent on re-finding the same clues and can try different methods for solving the clues and puzzles that arise.

### Designate a Discard Pile
Most escape rooms are designed so that each clue is used only once. If the game master mentions this rule, create a discard pile separate from your clue pile at the start to avoid wasting time trying keys that have already been used.

### Work in Pairs
As they say, “two is better than one.” In an escape room, working in pairs can help you find something you’ve missed or look at a puzzle in a whole new light. Your buddy can also go over the nooks and crannies you’ve checked and might just spot a clue you missed.

### Speak Loudly
The other key to escape rooms is communicating with your team. If you find clues or have an idea, say something and speak loudly! Likewise, listen to your teammates. Their idea might just help you solve the puzzle that’s got you stumped.

### Get Down Low
Escape rooms are bursting at the seams with props, clues, puzzles, and codes, and you’ll have a better chance of finding them all if you search both high and low. This is a great opportunity to use the strength of numbers as well—send your taller members searching high and children (or those with strong knees) to search down low.

### 5-Minute Puzzle Rule
If you’ve already spent five minutes trying to figure out a puzzle, let someone else have a go. You might be sure you’re the only person who can solve it. However, a different point of view, a different skill set, or a teammate with additional information might be exactly what’s needed to solve the puzzle.

## Why Escape Room Rules Are Important
The following are some of the top reasons escape room rules are important.

### Help You Get Started Faster
You need to understand and follow the rules to get the most out of your escape room experience. Not only will this ensure maximum enjoyment and success, but it will also help you avoid any potential mishaps or misunderstandings.

Many escape rooms require players to complete paperwork or other administrative tasks before the game begins. Arriving at the venue with plenty of time to spare ensures you can complete these tasks before the game begins.

It's worth noting that arriving late to a room escape game in Los Angeles can have a negative impact on your chances of success. If you have less time to solve the puzzles, you may find it more stressful and more difficult to escape before the clock runs out. Research shows that [stress negatively impacts cognitive function](https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/07/health/high-stress-lower-cognition-study-wellness/index.html). If you want to win, arrive on time.

### Increase Chances of Winning
When playing an escape room, it’s important to listen to the rules carefully, even if you are excited about the [escape game's theme or objective](https://questroom.com/blog/popular-escape-room-themes). The rules will tell you what you can and cannot do—this limits your options and helps you avoid wasting your time on things you don’t need to worry about! 

### Keep You and the Physical Objects Safe
Escape room instructions keep you and your teammates safe by prohibiting activities that could cause injuries. Following the escape room rules also prevents damage to the game props and decorations, which can result in extra fees or even cancellation of the game. This is an especially important point to keep in mind if you have previously completed virtual escape rooms rather than live escape rooms.

So, even though nobody likes being told what not to do, following an escape room guide is essential to enjoying the game to the fullest. 

## The Most Important Escape Room Rule
Escape rooms are exciting and stimulating, and sometimes put your patience to the test. However, it’s important to remember that the fun is in the playing of the game. If you don’t win, you can always come back at a later date and try the escape room again.

If you’re new to escape rooms in Los Angeles, pay attention, follow the escape room rules, and work as a team. You might not win the game on your first try. However, you’re sure to have a fantastic time!

Escape Room Rules That Every Player Needs to Know

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How to Create a DIY Birthday Party Escape Room

Escape Room Rules That Every Player Needs to Know

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