As much as you love your child (and you truly do), you probably enjoy the times when you’re alone. That’s not something that many parents might readily admit, though, since societal expectation dictates that you should want to spend every waking minute with your munchkins. But when you get even 20 minutes to zone out (and not have to refill sippy cups), you know how downright delicious it can be. So the idea of being locked in an escape room with your family might be enough to send you into a parental panic. But escape rooms aren’t only a fun way to spend some time together, but they also offer so many other benefits. Here’s why.
Escape Rooms Are Timed
Sure, stepping into the new world of an escape room might feel exciting, but hearing the door swing shut sometimes, um, isn’t. That’s why it’s important to keep your perspective. Even if finding a lost explorer’s notebook feels like it’s taking forever, it really isn’t. Escape rooms are often limited to 60 or 90 minutes, which means you’ll eventually get out, even if you can’t open the treasure chest in time.
Escape Rooms Help You Bond
It can be unsettling to walk into an escape room. It’s an unfamiliar environment, after all, and not knowing what to expect can be off-putting. That funky feeling might fade away quickly, though. Maybe it’s because you’re ransacking the room to find the murder weapon that killed Cousin Carl together, but escape rooms are really designed to be a group effort. Of course, there might be moments when someone spies what looks to be an innocent statue that actually opens a bookcase, but the ensuing excitement to find out what’s on the other side will be contagious.
Escape Rooms Allow You To Explore
If you’ve got a travel bucket list that includes countries like Croatia and Colombia, you might get there sooner than you think, thanks to an escape room. All escape rooms are themed, and many feature exotic environments. Another perk: you won’t have to pack any suitcases to be able to take the trip of a lifetime.
Escape Rooms Are Fun
The last place your teen wants to be on a Saturday is stuck in a locked room with their younger (and admittedly annoying) siblings. But there’s no denying that escape rooms are fun. Almost every item in the space serves some sort of purpose, and as each member of the fam unlocks a part of the puzzle, it will automatically add enthusiasm to the experience.
Escape Rooms Will Bring Out The Conflicts — And Help Resolve Them
Although escape rooms are fun, they’re also fraught with fights. Think about it: the clock is ticking, and no one can find the man-made virus that threatens to wipe out all of humanity. It’s no wonder then that tempers will flare, but addressed the right way, it’s an opportunity to work through the tension. Take the time to address the issue — maybe one kid swears that they found a clue when it’s just a plain ol’ prop that’s being added for ambiance, and another kid loses their ish. Acknowledge the issue (and the ensuing feelings) and promise to revisit the problem later in the day.
Escape Rooms Teach Kids About Taking Turns
One of the biggest (and prickly) parts about being a parent is that you’re ultimately an unpaid referee. Kids always want to be the first to do anything and solving an escape room is no different. They’ll yell over each other and claim that they found the clue. While “I found it first!” antics are sure to occur, being prepared is half the battle — literally. It may mean to assign your little sweetie to peruse the painting with a special flashlight for invisible messages while another kid can dig through the toy chest to find the doll and each child will have their turn to share their finds.
Escape Rooms Teach History (But Not In A Boring Way)
Some puzzles are scary, and others will make you in charge of a murder investigation. But others are honed in on history, and to solve them, you’ll need to brush up on your knowledge of the Revolutionary War. But if you can’t quite remember the names of all The Founding Fathers, for example, don’t worry. Often, the escape room will provide enough background information for you to still solve the mystery without feeling like you really should have paid more attention in your high school history class. The intensive experience is sure to make you an expert on industrialism, and you can all share what you learned in the car ride home.
There’s so much to gain from experiencing an escape room as a family. You’ll laugh (and yes, you might cry), but you’ll all be glad that you got to share the time together, and most importantly, that you eventually escaped in time to do your Target run — alone.