The escape rooms and the disadvantaged children
Have you ever wondered why mystery rooms have become so popular for the very short period of their existence? Why does the interest in revealing of different mysteries and logical problems is continued and is growing more and more?
The answer is really easy… Because the escape rooms give a chance to everyone, no matter if an adult or a child, to have real fun, to rise the adrenaline, to feel an important part of the group.
Being part of this is very important for the disadvantaged children, who have the need to go outside, to integrate in society and gain confidence that they are not a lower category people than everyone else.
Chidren are children, no matter in what conditions they live in, whether they are disadvantaged or no. They are just kids who need love, understanding and support, and… games to help them to get to know the world around them.
Escape rooms and different children
Do you know that in every city there are at least several mystery rooms and maybe you have visited some of them. You also know that these rooms are the perfect choice for celebration of children’s birthday, for family games or just a way to show your kids that there are other ways to have fun other than the computer games.
But if your child is a bit different, maybe you are asking yourself if these rooms are suitable for him, and whether you can gift him an hour in an escape room without worrying during the entire time for him.
In fact, if you stop worrying, you will realize that the escape rooms are not only safe but also incredibly useful for the disadvantaged children.
The truth is that the kids are not afraid to take the step into the mystery room, but you are, their parents or guardians. And this is totally understandable given the fact that in our country is still difficult for the parents and for the disadvantaged children to be understood and to receive the support that they need.
However, the first step towards change have to be made, and the escape rooms are one of the ways to help your child to socialize easily.
Why the escape rooms are useful for the disadvantaged children?
They help with integration
The most difficult thing that different children have to try to do is to integrate. Entering into the escape room with mysteries, they enter into one totally new, unknown world, in which the fact that they are different doesn’t matter. Solving a mystery after a mystery, overcoming obstacles with the other children, they manage to integrate more quickly and easily, as well to feel as part of a team, as part of the society.
On the other hand, the other of the children, when communicating with the disadvantaged ones, do understand that their friends are no different from them, and they can cope with the challenges just as well as if they have no health or social problems.
They increase the confidence in their own strengths and capabilities
Perhaps, you as parents of disadvantaged children, feel more comfortable if you take care for your kid 24/7, but wouldn’t be better for your child to feel more independent?
The games in the mystery rooms can help the kid to manage things on his own, by relying on his own intellect and skills. Thus the different child gains confidence and self-esteem that he can deal with a lot of things independently (or with much less help).
They help to develop the mental potential, logical thought and the concentration
Seeking a solution to the puzzle and trying to overcome all obstacles, the children, no matter if they are disadvantaged or no, learn to think quickly, logically and concentrate.
They develop social skills
How do children find new friends quickly? By participating in different games, of course. There isn’t a child who doesn’t like games and who doesn’t like to communicate with the other kids during the game.
Escape rooms are the perfect place where the children can get to know each other and create new contacts and friendships. During the games all children have to work as a team, they have to act and think together, if they want to go out of the room for an hour, and this can happen only if they communicate with each other.
They expand the horizons
The disadvantaged children often suffer from limitations that the different diseases or social inequalities impose on them, and they have to cope with them on a daily basis. One game with mysteries, however, can change this situation at least for a while, because it will give them pleasure and they will have a real fun, and the kids learn new things and this makes them want to get to know more and more new things (and places) of the world, which is beautiful and big, as well very interesting.
How to choose the right escape room?
The first thing that you have to do is to communicate with the child whether he really wants to experience such an adventure. The idea has to come from the child, and you just have to trust him that he will be able to cope.
The next important thing is the right choice of the escape room. This can take a longer time because not all escape rooms are intended for children. Search through the sites of the rooms, check their requirements and you will find something suitable for your child for sure.
Whether to leave the child play on his own, without supervisor or not? This decision depends entirely on the conditions of the specific mystery room, as well of the severity of the child’s illness. Our advice to you, in order to be more calm, to play with kids but…
If you choose to enter the room together with the children, you have to remember the following:
- Leave the children have fun on their own. You may stay close, but don’t try to interfere much in the game. Let them find their way one to another, as well to resolve the mysteries together.
- Encourage them and praise them after each overcome obstacle. This will give them a sense of confidence and will fill their hearts with joy that they have managed to cope perfectly with the task.
- After the game is finished, do celebrate the win appropriately. Invite all children who have participated in the game and in resolving the mystery to a party and don’t stop encouraging them.
And the most important thing, never allow yourself to think that the disadvantaged children aren‘t capable to deal with the mysteries in the escape rooms independently and with confidence. They surely can!