Floortime in one sentence
DIR Floortime is a developmental, play-based approach in which an adult gets down on the floor, joins what a child already loves, and uses that shared play to help the child grow in connection, communication, thinking and emotional regulation.
What does "DIR" stand for?
DIR is the framework behind Floortime. It was developed by child psychiatrist Dr. Stanley Greenspan and clinical psychologist Dr. Serena Wieder, and each letter describes one way of understanding your child.
- D: Developmental. We look at where your child is in their social and emotional development, not just which skills they have or don't have, and we build from there.
- I: Individual differences. Every child takes in and responds to the world differently: sounds, touch, movement, how they plan their bodies, how they process language. We tailor play to how your child is wired.
- R: Relationship-based. Children grow through warm, trusting relationships. The relationship is not a reward for learning; it's how the learning happens.
Why play?
When a child is doing something they love, they're calm, motivated and paying attention. That's the best possible moment to learn. Floortime uses that moment. If your child loves lining up cars, the player might playfully "park" a car in the wrong spot, inviting your child to communicate, problem-solve and engage, all without leaving the game.
Over time, those small back-and-forth moments grow into longer conversations, more flexible thinking, and more comfort with other people.
The developmental milestones Floortime builds
DIR describes a series of functional emotional developmental capacities that build on one another. The first six are:
- Regulation and shared attention: staying calm and alert enough to engage with the world.
- Engagement and relating: enjoying being with another person.
- Two-way purposeful communication: back-and-forth exchanges with gestures, sounds or words.
- Complex problem solving: stringing many exchanges together to solve problems and get needs met.
- Using symbols and ideas: pretend play and using words to express needs and feelings.
- Logical thinking: connecting ideas, answering "why" questions, and understanding others' points of view.
Your child's assessment shows where they are on this ladder, and their goals are built to help them climb it.
Who is Floortime for?
Floortime helps children with autism and with other developmental, sensory, communication or regulation differences. At Learn Through Play we work with children ages 3 and up.
What does a session look like at home?
A trained Floortime player comes to your home and starts by following your child's lead. It looks like play, because it is. Behind the play, the player is working on the specific goals set in your child's assessment and gently stretching each interaction a little further.
Every player is guided by an experienced DIR supervisor who reviews progress and coaches them, and parents are welcome to join in. The more Floortime moments happen during the week, at mealtime, bath time or in the car, the faster children tend to grow.
How progress is measured
Floortime isn't open-ended play. Each child has written goals from their assessment, progress is tracked over time, and regular reassessments update the goals as your child grows. You'll always know what we're working on and how it's going.
Common questions
Is Floortime evidence-based?
DIR Floortime has a growing body of research, including studies of parent-mediated Floortime programs. We're happy to talk through the research and what it means for your child.
How many hours a week does my child need?
It depends on your child's needs and on what insurance authorizes. Your child's assessment and treatment plan will recommend a schedule.
Can parents do Floortime too?
Yes, and we encourage it. Parent coaching is part of our services so you can use Floortime strategies throughout the day.
Does my child need to talk to benefit?
No. Floortime meets children wherever they are, including children who communicate with gestures, sounds, pictures or devices.