Floor is lava: how to play (plus 6 ways to keep it fresh)

"The floor is lava" needs no equipment, no prep and no explaining. A child hears it once and they're off. It's also one of the best ways to burn energy indoors when it's too wet, cold or late to go out.

Here's how to set it up so it goes well, and how to keep it from getting stale after round two.

What you need

• Cushions, pillows or folded blankets (6 to 10 is plenty)
• A clear room: move sharp-cornered tables and anything breakable out of the route
• Bare feet or grippy socks. Socks on wood or tile floors are slippery.
• A timer, if you like racing

That's it. Couch cushions and a rug are already a course.

How to play

1. Announce it. Say it like it's an emergency: "Quick! The floor just turned into lava!"
2. Set the goal. Cross the room (or go from the sofa to the kitchen door) without touching the floor.
3. Add the rules. Anything that isn't floor is safe: cushions, sofas, chairs, the rug if you say so. If a foot touches the lava, you can do a dramatic melt, then start again.
4. Go again. Move the cushions further apart and try to beat your time.

Make it work for different ages

• Ages 2 to 3: keep the stepping stones close together and let them use their hands too. Reaching a "safe island" is the whole win.
• Ages 4 to 6: space the cushions a big step apart. Add a goal at the end, like a toy to rescue.
• Ages 7 and up: use fewer cushions, add a time limit and let them design the course. The building is half the fun.

6 ways to keep it fresh

1. Rescue mission. Put a soft toy on the far side. It has to be carried back across the lava.
2. Animal lava. Cross like a frog, a crab or a sleepy bear.
3. No-talking lava. Everyone has to cross in silence. Wobbling is allowed.
4. Lava monster. One person is the lava monster and can only touch the floor. Everyone else tries to avoid being tagged.
5. Build the course. Give them the cushions and let them build the route while you test it.
6. Cooling lava. Cross the room, then rest on "cool rock" (a cushion) with three slow breaths. This is a good way to finish and calm down.

Staying safe

• Check that cushions won't slide on the floor. A rug under them helps.
• Keep the course away from stairs, windows and glass tables.
• Make a "gentle feet" rule for the youngest kids, and for adults too.
• Stop when it gets wild. A quick breathing game is a good way to land.

If they lose interest

Fall into the lava yourself, loudly. Big reactions get little ones going. If the course feels too hard, make the gaps smaller. If it feels too easy, make them bigger, or give them a job like carrying a "magic potion" (a spoon with a pom-pom) across.

Why it works

Big movement burns energy and builds balance, planning and body control. It also gives children a story to be inside, which is more motivating than "go and run around". It takes about 15 minutes and uses things you already own.

Need another idea for the afternoon? Try a leaf rubbing walk, or build a blanket fort and settle in afterwards.