For strategic gameplay and enhancing the experience:

1. Search the room thoroughly. Avoid having to ask yourself the question: “How did I miss that?”

2. Pay attention to your children. Kids often make mental connections that adults overlook. Plus, they’re really good at finding stuff.

3. Check your work. If you’re confident you have the correct code to the padlock or solution to the puzzle, try it more than once.

4. Check each other’s work. So many times, a player incorrectly inputs the correct code, but no one else follows up and tries it themselves.

5. Ask for help. Knowing when to request a hint from the Game Master can be a critical part of gameplay.

6. Test theories. If someone proposes a solution to a puzzle, explore that possibility. It's usually quicker to disprove (or prove!) a theory by trying it rather than spending the time to argue why it's wrong.

7. Learn your teammates’ strengths and use them to your advantage. Who’s good at problem-solving, deductive reasoning, lateral thinking, searching, communication, and the logistics of keeping organized?

8. Familiarize yourself with the theme and story beforehand. Understand why you, as a player/character, have purpose in the narrative.

9. If you need a reminder about the rules of the room, or have questions (e.g., Can I take the pictures off the wall? Can I move this table?) just ask the Game Master.

10. Enjoy yourself. Make the experience about having fun and creating memories. Plan a get-together afterwards to talk about your shared adventure, or "misadventure." Trust me, the silly things that happen during the game will often become the most fondly remembered.