The Low-Prep Guide to Setting Up a Printable Escape Room at Home

Escape Rooms Don't Have to Be Complicated

Does the phrase “escape room” sound like a lot of work, or make you picture locks, boxes, hidden clues, props and lots of preparation? With a printable escape room kit, kids can still enjoy all the fun of solving the clues, an you don't have to transform your house into an elaborate escape-room venue. The basic setup is just print the puzzles and recording sheets, place the puzzles around the house, give the kids directions on how to move from puzzle to puzzle and then let them solve the final code.

Because the setup is so easy, and the group size is flexible, these printable escape rooms can work for a wide variety of situations from birthday parties, to sleepovers, family gatherings, rainy days, or simply a screen-free activity. By the end of this post, you will know exactly how easy it is to get one ready.

With printable escape rooms, you don't need special decorations. You don't need a locked room. You don't need elaborate props. You don't need to hide every clue in a different location. You don't need anything other than a printer (or print at a local print shop) and pencils to write with.

1. Download and Print the Game

Download the PDF First

After purchasing the game, download it from the purchases section of your Etsy account. You will also receive an email with the download links. You are not able to download it from the Etsy app. I recommend downloading it on a computer to ensure accurate printing size. If you don’t already have it, you can download the Adobe Acrobat Reader for free. Using this program to print the game with the correct sizing (rather than printing from your web browser or the preview mode.)

What You Actually Need to Print

For my escape room kits, you do not need to print all the puzzle pages for every child. Instead, you print one set of the puzzles to place around the room/house. The kids move from puzzle to puzzle with their recording sheets. Thus, you need one recording sheet for each team (or each player if using it as an individual activity.) You may want to print the mission and answer key for yourself, or you could read them from your laptop or tablet. Finally, print the hint cards if you plan to use them..

Color printing is recommended when possible, but you can also print them in grayscale. Preview the pages when printing to ensure they are printed clearly. There are a few puzzles that are harder to read when printed in grayscale.

Looking for a themed ready-to-print escape room? Browse my printable escape rooms on Etsy.

2. Read Through the Game Before the Kids Start

Take a few minutes to look through the puzzles and answer key. You may want to even try part of each puzzle to fully understand it and predict struggle points. Kids struggling with a puzzle is normal. The challenge is part of the activity and gives them a chance to use critical-thinking skills.

Decide How You Will Handle Hints

Look over the hint cards and decide if you want to post them by each puzzle, or only give them out after the kids have tried on their own. I recommend letting them try the puzzle first. You can ask them a few probing questions, such as “What have you figured out so far?” You may also give small hints on your own before giving them the hint card. Working in teams gives them a chance to brainstorm/problem solve together.

Age-Related Tips

For older kids, I would not post the hint cards ahead of time. Many of them have experience doing digital or printable escape rooms at school and are familiar with working through them.

Some puzzles are structured to collect letters and unscramble them. Older kids may be able to guess the correct word with only a few letters. To keep it more challenging, I recommend folding the page on the dotted line to hide the answers. Once they think they have the right answer, then they can unfold it to get the needed code number.

3. Decide How the Kids Will Play

Individual Play

These games are suited for individual play as well as group play. For individual play by either just one child, or a very small group (i.e. siblings or friends) print a recording sheet for each child. The puzzles can be posted around, or just set out on a table. This works well for a screen-free activity, family game or if a child just wants to work through one on their own.

Small Teams

My escape room kits are flexible for any size group. I recommend team sizes of 2-3 players. For a 6 puzzle kit, that is 18 people and for the 9 puzzle kit, that is 27 people. If you have more people than that, you can print an additional set of puzzles.

Each team gets one recording sheet. You can let them decide who will write down the answers, or you can instruct them to rotate with each puzzle. Doing so makes everyone feel a part of the team, especially when there are three people in the team. Team play is a good option for birthday parties, sleepovers and other larger group activities.

4. Choose Where to Put the Puzzles

For Individual Play:

As mentioned, for individual play, you can spread the puzzle pages out on the kitchen table and have the kids move around the table as they work, or just take/replace each puzzle as they finish them. This allows a more free flowing movement and the kids can decide which puzzle they work on next. Caution them to match the puzzle number to the correct spot on the recording page.

You could also hide the puzzles with clues as to where to find them. This adds another element of puzzle solving and fun, especially if you are using this as a screen-free activity.

Create Puzzle Stations

For team play, place individual puzzles in different areas of the room or house. Kids then move from station to station. This makes the activity feel more like a traditional escape room. You will want to decide ahead of time the flow of movement and explain it to them. The most logical is to move to the next number. I try to leave space between puzzles so that they can’t hear the other teams brainstorming.

If you decide to hide the puzzles for the teams to find, note that once the first team finds the puzzle, everyone will know where it is. One recommendation is to have a separate scavenger hunt to find the puzzles and bring them to you. Once all are found, then you post them around the room or house for the kids to solve.

5. Decide How You Will Manage the Game Time

Time the Whole Game

This method works for smaller groups as they will be moving around as they finish a puzzle. For this, I would have at least one less group than there are puzzles so there is always an empty puzzle to go to. If there is not an empty puzzle, they should wait for one. Each game gives a suggested time for completion. As you watch the kids move through the puzzles, you may want to adjust it to fit their play.

After years of teaching and leading group activities, I've learned that a little planning can make the difference between organized chaos and complete chaos. Read my tips here.

Time Individual Puzzles

Instead of an overall countdown, give teams a certain amount of time for each puzzle. This keeps the activity moving and keeps the flow more organized. It also prevents one difficult puzzle, or slower team, from taking up the entire game. Let them know they can always return to a puzzle at the end if they need more time. Using a countdown timer that has a sound saves your voice :)

As you watch the kids move through the puzzles, you may want to adjust the allotted time to fit their play. Older kids may move through them faster, younger kids may need more hints. The goal is to have fun, but also not rush through it. My included Game Success Guide gives tips for managing early finishers, and having multiple ways to win the game.

6. Explain the Rules and Mission

Before starting the game, explain to the kids what they are trying to accomplish. Have them get into their teams before giving directions. Explain the order of movement through the puzzles and how you are using the hint cards. Let them know if the game is timed or not. Show them the recording sheet, and for younger kids - walk through doing one of the puzzles. Emphasize that they do not write on the puzzles, but on the recording sheet itself. If they need room to figure out a problem, they can use the back side for scratch paper.

This short introduction helps kids understand what they're supposed to do before they jump into the puzzles. You can even ask teams to restate your directions and of course, answer their questions. Lastly, read the mission aloud and have them get their recording sheet. If the game is timed, have them wait to start until you say they can.

7. Finish With the Final Code

Once the kids have solved every puzzle, their recording sheet explains how they are to review their answers to determine the final four digit code. This provides a built-in way to check whether they solved the puzzles correctly.

If you are timing the game as a whole, the first team to crack the code correctly can win a small prize. If each puzzle has a time limit, all teams who correctly determine the code would be the winners. As mentioned, the included Game Success Guide offers multiple ways kids can win the game.

Optional is the purchase of a programmable four digit lock for the kids to try their code on. You could even lock up a small treat for each team.

Summary: Five-Minute Host Checklist

Here are the steps for hosting this game:

Download the PDF to your computer.
Print one set of puzzles.
Print one recording sheet per child or team.
Print the answer key, mission and hint cards as desired.
Choose individual play or teams of 2–3.
Decide where you'll put the puzzles and timing
Read the directions and mission..
Set the timer.
Let the kids solve!

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple

The goal of the escape room kits is provide you with a low prep, engaging kids activity that fits many situations and group sizes. Just print and play, no props are needed, the puzzles are the main feature.

During the game, you get to watch the kids interact and work together to solve problems and have fun. A few hints here or there, and reminders of where to go are all you need to do.

Are you ready to try a printable escape room kit? Skip all the complicated setup and get straight to the fun. My printable escape room kits have everything you need to get started, just print, set up and play!

Browse Printable Escape Room Kits

(Don't forget: Use code SAVE20 at checkout to save 20% on any order of $20 or more!)

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