Welcome back, zombie enthusiasts! In our previous post, we covered how to set up your “Little Zombies and the Vampire” escape room adventure. Now, it’s time to bring the excitement to life! This guide will walk you through running the game, keeping your little zombies engaged, and creating an unforgettable experience.
Quick Recap: If you haven’t read Part 1 on planning and setup, make sure to check it out in our first blog post. It covers all the materials needed and detailed setup instructions.
Get ready to bring the story to life with this exciting home escape room adventure!
Detailed Game Sequence:
Finding Zombies:
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- Start by saying: “Little zombies, your adventure begins! Four of your zombie friends are hiding in this room. Can you find them all?”
- After all are found: “Great job! Now, can you put the zombies in order?”
- Reveal: “Look at the back of the cards. Those numbers will help you open the mysterious box!”
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Character-Food Matching:
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- Guide them to the locked box: “The zombies’ friends left a surprise, but it’s locked! Can you open it?”
- After opening: “Oh look, it’s a puzzle about the Halloween party! Can you match who’s bringing what food?”
- Once finished: “Great job! Is there anything else written on the puzzle?”
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Clock Challenge:
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- When they find “Look under the rug,” ask, “I wonder what’s under there?”
- For the clock card: “Remember what time the zombies woke up in the story?”
- Encourage them to look for a real clock in the room.
- After finding the key: “Wow! I wonder what this key opens?”
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Maze Challenge:
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- The key opens another box containing the printed maze.
- Say: “Look, the zombies left us a tricky maze!”
- After they complete the maze, they might look confused.
- Point out: “Let’s read what it says at the top of the maze. Do you notice anything special about these words?”
- Guide them: “Look, the word ‘green’ is underlined. I wonder why?”
- Encourage observation: “Do you see any letters on the maze? What colors are they?”
- Help them focus on green letters and unscramble “BUBBLES.”
- Exclaim: “Bubbles! Where were the zombies blowing bubbles in the story?”
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Bubbles Adventure:
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- Lead them to the bathroom: “The zombies love splashing in the bathtub. Let’s see what’s in there!”
- For the bubble container: “Can you see anything hidden in the bubbles?”
- After key retrieval: “Another key! What do you think this one is for?”
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Final Hiding Challenge:
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- Guide them to use the key on the final lock.
- After reading the vampire warning card, act scared: “Oh no! We need to hide quickly!”
- Instructions: “Find a good hiding spot. I’m going to turn into a vampire and look for you!”
- Count loudly to 20, then begin your vampire act.
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Vampire Search and Prize:
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- Pretend to search: “Where oh where could those tasty little zombies be?”
- After a minute or two: “Oh no! These zombies are too clever for me. I give up!”
- Congratulate them: “You’ve outsmarted the vampire! Here’s your reward for being such brave and clever zombies!”
Tips for Parents During the Game:
- Stay in character: Refer to the kids as “little zombies” and maintain the story’s atmosphere.
- Offer hints gradually: If they’re stuck, start with vague hints and get more specific if needed.
- Be flexible: If a challenge is too hard or easy, be ready to adjust on the fly.
- Encourage teamwork: If multiple kids are playing, prompt them to help each other.
- Take photos: Capture the fun moments (but don’t interrupt the flow of the game).
Handling Different Outcomes:
- If kids get stuck: Have pre-prepared hint cards for each challenge. Give them out one at a time if needed.
- If it’s going too fast: Add impromptu mini-challenges or ask them questions about the story to slow the pace.
- If it’s going too slow: Combine some steps or offer more direct hints to keep the momentum.
Conclusion:
Congratulations! You’ve successfully run a “Little Zombies and the Vampire” escape room adventure. This experience not only brings the book to life but also encourages problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity.
After the game, consider these follow-up activities:
- Discuss their favorite parts of the adventure
- Ask them to draw their own zombie escape room ideas
- Read the book again and see if they notice new details
Remember, the most important thing is that everyone has fun. Don’t worry if things don’t go exactly as planned – the kids’ imagination and your enthusiasm are what really make the experience special.
We’d love to hear about your Little Zombies escape room adventure! Share your experiences, photos, or questions in the comments below. And if you’re hungry for more, let us know what other books you’d like to see turned into home escape rooms!
Happy zombie adventuring!
