Have you read “Little Zombies and the Vampire” with your kids?

Get ready to bring the story to life with this exciting home escape room adventure!

Perfect for children aged 3-8, this game will challenge their problem-solving skills and imagination. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to set up your very own Little Zombies escape room for kids.

What You’ll Need:

“Little Zombies and the Vampire” book (for reference)

Paper and markers

Scissors

A small box with a 4-digit combination lock

Two additional boxes or containers

Two keys

Clear container for the bathtub

Bubble bath or shampoo

Printable maze (you can find free ones online)

Prize (candy, small toy, or homemade certificate)

Optional: Halloween decorations, zombie or vampire props

Detailed Setup Instructions:

Zombie Hunt:

Create four cards labeled “Zombie 1”, “Zombie 2”, “Zombie 3”, and “Zombie 4”

On the back of each, write one number of a 4-digit code

Hide these around the room

Locked Box Challenge:

Place the character-food matching puzzle pieces inside a box

Lock it with the 4-digit combination lock

Character-Food Puzzle:

Cut paper into puzzle pieces

On each piece, write a character name (e.g., “Wolf and Bunny”) or a food item from the story

When assembled, the puzzle should read “Look under the rug” at the bottom

Clock Mystery:

Draw a clock showing 8:00 on a card and hide it under a rug

Set a real clock in the room to 8:00

Hide a key behind the real clock

Maze Challenge:

Print a simple maze

Write “Help zombies find their way through the green forest” at the top, underlining “green”

Place letters throughout the maze – some in blue, some in green

Ensure the green letters spell out “BUBBLES” when collected

Put the maze in a box to be opened with the clock key

Bubbles Adventure:

Fill a clear container with water and add a bubble bath

Place it in the bathtub with a key at the bottom

Final Hiding Challenge:

Prepare a box or use a door with a rubber band and lock

Inside, place a card saying, “Hurry! Hide! Vampire is on the way!”

Have a prize ready to give after this final challenge

Tips for Preparation

Age Adjustments:

For younger kids (3-5), make hiding spots more obvious and puzzles simpler

For older kids (6-8), increase difficulty with trickier hiding spots and more complex puzzles

Making It More Elaborate:

Add spooky decorations to set the mood

Use Halloween props to create a more immersive experience

Consider adding background music or sound effects

Safety Considerations:

Ensure all hiding spots are safe and easily accessible

Use child-safe materials for all props and puzzles

Supervise the bathtub activity to prevent any accidents

Timing:

Do a trial run to estimate how long each challenge might take

Be prepared to adjust on the fly if things are moving too quickly or slowly

Hints System in an Escape Room for Kids:

Prepare a few hints for each challenge in case kids get stuck

Write them on cards to keep handy during the game

Remember, the goal is to create a fun, immersive experience that brings the book to life. Don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect – your enthusiasm and your children’s imagination will fill in any gaps!

Conclusion:

Setting up this Little Zombies escape room is a fantastic way to extend the joy of reading and create lasting memories with your kids. Feel free to get creative and add your own twists to the challenges. The most important thing is to have fun with it!

Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll guide you through running the escape room adventure. We’ll cover the game sequence, how to present each challenge, and tips for keeping the excitement going throughout the experience.

Have any questions about the setup? Leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to help!