Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Evergreens

The Floor is Lava! game: Fun for the whole family to play

Get the whole family playing this game

Add as a preferred source on Google
Scrabble tiles spelling, game night
Bibi Siva / Shutterstock

Games that are easy to play and understood by the whole family can often be hard to come by, which is why The Floor is Lava! game is such a fun activity for all ages. So many games marketed as “family-friendly” are anything but, and often require a lot of effort by parents to get everyone engaged. This isn’t the case when it comes to The Floor is Lava!, which is probably why it’s so fun.

If you’ve never played The Floor is Lava! before, the concept is very easy and very fun. You can play it just about anywhere with any number of participants, and is suitable for almost all age groups. Here are some fun ways to play this game that has become so popular that Netflix even created a series based on it.

Family having fun walking outside
Emma Bauso / Pexels

How to play The Floor is Lava!

The best part of this game is that you can play it anywhere; as long as everyone knows the pretty basic rules. Anyone at any time can enter a room and declare “the floor is lava.” At this point, the objective is for everyone in the room to get their feet off the floor within 5 seconds. Anyone who doesn’t get their feet off the floor — which has been determined to be lava — in that time “loses.” Naturally, when played among adults, this game can feature some pretty intense parkour moves, but that doesn’t mean your little ones can’t get involved, too.

Mom and daughter playing musical game
Fizkes / Shutterstock

How to get younger kids involved

Toddlers and younger kids love to play games, but they don’t always have the patience or the understanding to participate in those that are a bit more complicated. Board games can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for younger kids. The Floor is Lava! is so easy that kids of all ages can play, but you probably don’t want your younger kids jumping all over your furniture or climbing anything high to get themselves off the floor.

Recommended Videos

If you want to get your toddlers moving and playing, create a fun and safe area in the house for everyone to play. Parents can make a little obstacle course with pillows or blankets on the floor for younger kids to jump on. As your kids get older, those obstacles can become a bit more difficult, with the pillows and blankets spaced further apart. Older kids will impress you with just how creative they can get as they do everything they can to avoid the lava floor. You can bring out the competitive nature of the game as you watch all participants race to get off the floor first.

A family playing in the backyard together
urbazon / Getty Images

The fun is endless

There’s really no limit on how creative you can get while playing The Floor is Lava! game. Your kids will enjoy shouting the familiar catchphrase at random times and will laugh watching everyone scatter as they try to get their feet off the floor. The fun is endless, and it’s a game that will get everyone moving and thinking. This is the sort of fun that doesn’t cost any money but can get the entire family involved. The next time you’re looking to spice up game night or simply get the family moving, why not play The Floor is Lava! and see just how exciting it can be?

Kelli Catana
Former Author
Is CoComelon ‘Good’ for Kids? Experts Cite Research Pointing to ‘Yes’
Dad brushing teeth with daughter and looking in the mirror with CoComelon

Parents navigating the landscape of kids’ media often question which content genuinely benefits their little ones. Among the most popular kids’ shows today, educational programming like CoComelon has captivated young audiences worldwide, but many caregivers wonder: beyond its ability to entertain, does this musical series offer real developmental value?

Research and child development experts have revealed many details about the educational framework behind the animated series, its potential benefits, and how caregivers can maximize positive outcomes when incorporating such content into their kids’ routines.

Read more
Experts weigh in: Why YouTube isn’t great for kids
You may rethink screen time after you know what experts say about kids watching YouTube
Young boy on an iPad

It's a parenting tale as old as time. You have things to get done around the house, but a small person who says they're bored is competing with your to-do list. And so, you do what many parents do in this stretched-thin situation. You turn on the television, hand over a cellphone, or put on YouTube. But when it comes to kids watching YouTube, is it doing more harm than good?

Screens can be "addictive," as noted by Dr. David Greenfield, founder and clinical director of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction. He explains that they have a dopamine-producing effect, and many realistic pediatric experts agree that, while screens are a part of our modern lifestyle, moderation should be enforced, and limitations be set. Parents need to learn why they should be mindful of children watching YouTube and how to lay down the screen time law at home. We'll share some tips and words of wisdom from experts in the know.
Why screen time could be negative

Read more
The best low-stimulation movies for calming toddlers
Make sure movie time does keep your toddler awake
Cute toddler watching a movie on a laptop

Screen time isn't always a bad thing for toddlers. Sometimes, when your little one isn't feeling well, watching a soothing movie is a perfect pick. Low-stimulation movies for toddlers offer better quality screen time than movies that are loud and packed with action. Sure, those are fun and can be super exciting for kids, but the impact on their cognitive development is often negative. Those overstimulating movies can be too much for toddlers, leading to tantrums, meltdowns, and an inability to fall asleep.

Think about how difficult it is to fall asleep after watching a horror or suspense movie right before going to bed. Your mind is going in different directions, making it hard to relax and drift off to sleep. Well, it's the same for toddlers. So, what are the best low-stimulation movies for toddlers to watch and what exactly are they?
Best low-stimulation movies for toddlers

Read more