The floor is lava facts for kids

Swamp Crossing is a game where kids work together to cross a "swamp" using limited boards, without touching the ground.

The floor is lava is a fun game where players pretend the floor is made of hot lava or something else dangerous. The goal is to avoid touching the ground at all costs! Players stay safe by jumping onto furniture or other things in the room. If you touch the floor, you're "out"!

Sometimes, players have to keep moving from one safe spot to another. This is because some people pretend the furniture might be sinking or dangerous if you stay on it too long. You can play this game with friends or even by yourself for fun. There might even be a finish line you need to reach! You can also play this game outside in playgrounds. Players can add obstacles like chairs to make the game harder. It's a bit like an obstacle course.

Anyone can start the game by shouting, "The floor is lava!" If you're still on the floor a few seconds later, you're out. You might have to wait a bit before you can join the game again.

Sometimes, there are special tasks or places that let you get back into the game or recover. These could be simple things like finding a certain person.

Hot Lava Monster

One fun way to play is called "Hot Lava Monster." This is often played on playgrounds. Players must stay off the ground (which is the "lava") and only touch the play equipment. One person is the "monster" and can move on the "lava." The monster's job is to try and tag other players.

The monster has to move across things like playground slides, monkey bars, and ropes courses. In some versions, the monster might not be allowed to touch certain obstacles, like wooden platforms.

Similar Games

"The floor is lava" is a lot like an old game called "Puss in the Corner." In that game, children are "safe" if they are in a corner of a room. The player who is "It" (called the Puss) stays in the middle. The Puss tries to get into an empty corner as other players run from one corner to another. If the Puss gets a corner, another player becomes "It."

Where You've Seen It

This game is so popular, it has appeared in many TV shows and video games!

On TV Shows

• In the TV show New Girl, the characters often play a game called “True American.” One of the main rules of this game is that the floor is lava.
• The show Orange is the New Black has an episode called "Mischief Mischief." In this episode, a character named Frieda suddenly says the floor is lava. Another character, Suzanne, quickly jumps onto a table to be safe.
• The TV show Community has an episode called "Geothermal Escapism." In this episode, the whole campus has a big lava contest. The prize is a rare comic book!
• In June 2020, Netflix released a game show called Floor Is Lava. In this show, teams of adults try to get through rooms filled with a hot, bubbly liquid.

In Video Games

• In the video game Disney Infinity 3.0, there's a part based on the movie Inside Out. Players have to guide characters across a lake of lava. One character, Anger, can even walk through the lava without getting hurt!
• In 2016, a company called Klei Entertainment announced a video game based on the game, called Hot Lava. You play it from a first-person view, like you are actually there.
• Ketchapp released a mobile game called The Floor is Lava in 2017.
• The popular battle royale game Fortnite: Battle Royale had a special game mode where lava slowly filled the map. Players had to build platforms to escape the rising lava while battling other teams.

Board Games

There are also board games inspired by "The floor is lava."

• "The Floor is Lava" board game by Italian Cousins is a bit different from the classic game.
• The Endless Games brand also has a game with the same title. It comes with accessories to play a more traditional version of the game.

See also

In Spanish: El suelo es lava para niños