Floortime is a therapeutic intervention that uses the power of relationship and respectful, joyful human connection to promote engagement, communication, positive behaviour and independent thinking; in order to optimally stimulate an individual’s developmental growth.
It is based on the DIR® model developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Serena Wieder, and can be done by parents, family, or professionals caring for individuals with developmental challenges. It is a way of communicating with and responding to children and adults of all ages, that encourages them to initiate and interact in the world around them in a meaningful way.
Many of the approaches traditionally used with children rely on adult-led experiences. In Floortime, the adult participates in the child’s learning process, facilitating their sense of mastery and thus promoting the child’s own desire to seek new experiences and reach out to others.
The 3 main principles are:
Following a child’s lead – Joining their world and using the activities that interest them and give them pleasure, to harness their inner motivation to interact with the world (even if it is initially just a repetitive, stimulatory action).
Expanding their interest (without taking control) to encourage reciprocal communication, problem solving and creative thinking.
Challenging them to move up the “developmental ladder” which describes developing levels of Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities.
