Escape room for kids you can print: how to run one at home

A printable escape room is a story with puzzles, played on paper at home. The children solve a series of puzzles, each of which gives them a piece of the answer, until they have what they need to finish the story. You need a printer, a table and an adult or older child who knows the solutions.

How it works at home

1. The host reads the story. The host sets the scene and hands over the first puzzle.
2. Puzzles come one at a time. Each solved puzzle gives a clue, a number or a word that the children keep.
3. Hints are on cards. If a team is stuck, the host gives a hint card instead of the answer. Three levels per puzzle means a team can ask for a nudge, not a spoiler.
4. The last puzzle opens the finale. The final page gives the magic word and the game ends with a certificate.

Before the game

• Read the host guide first, and solve the puzzles yourself or read the solutions, so you know what a hint should sound like.
• Print and sort the pages and keep the solutions out of reach.
• Set up one table with pencils, and a second one if you have two teams.
• Decide on teams. Groups of two to four children work well; split a bigger group.
• Keep a timer or clock handy if you want to play against the clock. The pack does not require one.

What is in our escape room

Escape room for kids aged 8 to 12: Pip and the Wish Lantern is for children aged 8 to 12, with Pip the little ghost. Pip's wish lantern has gone dark, and six light sparks are hiding in six rooms of Pip's house. The children solve six puzzles (a secret code, a letter sudoku, a maze, a logic puzzle, Morse code and a letter scramble), find the sparks and say the magic word.

You get one PDF of 14 pages, US Letter (it prints on A4 with "fit to page"), with:

• a guide for parents and game masters, and the story page;
• 6 puzzle pages with Pip, each with a clear task;
• the final page with the magic word, and a certificate to fill in;
• 18 hint cards (three per puzzle) and the full solutions.

It works at a birthday party, on a rainy afternoon or as a quiet game with a few friends. Nothing is posted: you download the file after paying and print it at home, for your own household.

Tips from the format

• Let the youngest in the team read the clues aloud so everyone listens.
• Give a hint after a few minutes of being stuck, not before. Being stuck is half the game.
• If someone loses patience, give the next hint level straight away rather than the solution.
• Afterwards, let the children explain how they solved each puzzle.

Frequently asked questions

What age is a printable escape room for?

Our Pip escape room is written for children aged 8 to 12. Younger children can join in a team with an older child or an adult.

How many children can play?

One team of two to four is easiest. For a larger group, make two teams and print the pages twice.

Do I need anything besides the printout?

Pencils and a table. The host guide says what the host needs to prepare.

Is there a version in German?

Yes: Exit-Spiel für Kinder zum Ausdrucken.