DIR/Floortime

Floortime is the centerpiece of the Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) Model. The DIR/Floortime approach involves meeting your child at his current developmental level, and building upon his particular set of strengths to help him develop.  The approach suggests following the child’s lead: tuning in to his interests and desires in interactions and play to harness the power of his motivation and help him climb the developmental ladder. It also involves tailoring these interactions to the child's individual differences in sensory reactivity, processing and motor planning.

An important part of this program is engaging in developmentally appropriate interactions at every opportunity.  This is "Floortime,” which literally involves getting down on the floor to play with your child.

By following your child's interests, joining what he is doing and wooing him with warm but persistent attempts to engage his attention, you can lead him to climb the developmental ladder. Through playful, engaging interactions, you can help him want to learn to pay attention, want to engage in some sort of dialogue and want to take initiative, even before he speaks in any meaningful conversation.

By entering into your child's world, you can help your child learn to relate in a meaningful, spontaneous, flexible and warm way.  This does not happen overnight; adopting this approach involves making a commitment to spending a considerable period of time on the floor, playing with your child and becoming a part of his world, even if his activities are limited.  It involves responding to his every utterance or gesture, in an effort to spark a response – the beginning of two-way communication with your child.

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