The Floor Is Lava
Cushions become islands. Nobody may touch the carpet.
- Ages
- 2–9 yrs
- Play
- 10–30 min
- Prep
- 3 min
- Mess
- barely any
- Energy
- wild
- Where
- on the floor
You’ll need
How to play
Before you start: Scatter cushions across the floor with gaps a child can just about reach across.
Announce, with total seriousness, that the floor has turned to lava.
Show them how to cross the room stepping only on cushions.
Once they have the idea, move one cushion further away to raise the difficulty.
Take a turn yourself and be dramatically terrible at it.
Finish by shrinking the island down to one cushion everyone has to squeeze onto.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Clear the area of hard corners and anything that can be pulled over.
- Cushions slide on hard floors; play on carpet where you can.
Make it different next time
- Add a rule: you must carry a soft toy to safety on each crossing.
- Time each crossing and try to beat it.
Cleanup: Cushions go back on the sofa — make it the final round of the game.
Three more like this
- Good for siblings
- Good for siblings
