Can DIR Floortime

Help Kids With

Autism Develop
Communication
Skills?
Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?

The journey to nding the right therapy for a child with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be stressful.
Many therapies claim to o er bene ts such as social and communication development, but it’s di cult
choosing which therapies autistic children should receive to assist them in the long run to become fully
independent.

It’s important to look at the bigger picture and choose an intervention that assists in areas such as social-
emotional development, as well as the ability to understand and perceive the world. Many parents are
looking for options which expose autistic children to the power of emotional and relationship connections and
teach those who struggle in these areas in a proactive form of therapy. One such approach growing in
popularity is DIR Floortime therapy.

DIR Floortime therapy is said to be e ective for autistic children in a variety of ways. This article will overview
how the therapy works and the potential bene ts of implementing this form of therapy for autistic children.

What is DIR Floortime?

DIR Floortime stands for the Developmental Individual-di erence Relationship-based model Floortime and
was developed by the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan to help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
connect while using their interests and passions to develop engagement skills, symbolic thinking, increase
logical thinking, and improve interaction.

During DIR Floortime, children lead an activity with their clinician or caregiver joining in and encouraging skill
development within the world and parameters the child has created. Dr. Greenspan’s approach stresses the
importance of including the child’s senses, emotions, and motor skills to create a holistic approach to
support the child’s development. This can be adapted to the child’s age and developmental level. As a child
becomes older, DIR Floortime becomes more conversation-based and focuses on creative thinking and
exploring the child’s interests and ideas.

Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?
Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?

The highly adaptive nature of this therapy makes it a valuable option for children at all points of the autism
spectrum. Dr. Greenspan encouraged parents to observe the kind of play their child engages in best (such as
sensory, object, symbolic, or a combination) and determine whether the child is sensitive sensory seeking,
under-reactive, or passive.

Is DIR Floortime therapy right for my child?

Many believe DIR Floortime’s bene ts largely outweigh its challenges. When Dr. Gil Tippy PsyD, clinical
director and founder of the Rebecca School in New York, spoke with the University of Vermont’s publication
OutReach in 2015, he said the following about Floortime’s drawbacks and challenges:

“The primary struggle with DIR/Floortime is that somehow the general public, and those who make funding
decisions, have been tricked into believing that DIR is not scienti c. Nothing could be further from the truth.
DIR/Floortime, and child development, in general, have been so well documented and researched that it
meets criteria now to be seen as an ‘evidence-based practice…The confusing charts and graphs of applied
behavior analysis look like what people believe science should look like, but it’s a trick. I would say that is
DIR’s greatest challenge”

Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?
Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?

Additionally, The Autism Resource Foundation notes that parents who practice Floortime with their children
require “a lot of patience, imagination, and stamina”. They go on to say that “since there is very little in the
way of a speci c direction (each child is di erent) it can be hard to know if you’re doing it right”.

However, the bene ts can potentially be life-changing, especially when practiced by a clinician. During
Floortime, a child has the opportunity to communicate and connect on their own terms. It’s suggested that,
by meeting children where they are, they are more likely to pick up language skills, express their needs and
desires, and connect with their Floortime partner.

Di erence between DIR Floortime and ABA

therapy
DIR Floortime is quite di erent from ABA. Unlike ABA therapy, oortime centers on emotional connection and
development rather than behavior. Another di erence is that Floortime is focused on play and having the
child take the lead on activities. In addition, DIR Floortime always takes place on the oor, following the
child’s lead and using whatever tools or objects they are drawn to.

Is Floortime therapy evidence-based?

Evidence-based research has been found to support Floortime. According to a study by K. Pajareya, MD, and
K. Nopmaneejumrulers, MD of Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand, Floortime is an e ective treatment
strategy for children with autism. In this study, parents conducted an average of 15.2 hours/week at home
Floortime for three months.
Floortime was used in conjunction with the child’s existing behavioral treatment. The group of children who
participated is said to have made signi cant gains.

Pajareya and Nopmaneejumruslers noted that the children who did not show a favorable outcome in this
study were a ected by their families’ need for better intervention coaching and modeling to change their
communication styles and encourage them to relate to the child better. The children whose parents were
well trained and able to spend more time with their children made signi cantly better progress (Pajareya &
Nopmaneejumruslers, 2012).

Other anecdotal evidence was recorded in Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics. This study
noted that Floortime conducted at home improved parent-child interaction in preschool-aged children with
autism.

The families in this study completed a 10-week Floortime program averaging 109.7 hours of intervention.
These children improved their emotional functioning, communication, and daily living skills. These ndings
were supported by the mothers of these children noticing improved parent-child interactions. (Liao, et al.,
2014)

Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?
Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?

How to conduct play therapy techniques at

home
A ecting Autism, a group dedicated to “educating, empowering, and supporting parents of children with
developmental challenges” published a guide that breaks down the basics of conducting Floortime at home
based on Dr. Greenspan and Dr. Tippy’s research. The guide suggests that autism caregivers do the
following:

Determine your child’s sensory need

The rst step outlined is to create a comfortable environment for your
child based on their sensory needs and preferences. As mentioned
above, Dr. Greenspan’s website o ers a downloadable manual to
determine your child’s sensory pro le. Any teachers, therapists, or other
doctors in your child’s life may be able to help you determine your child’s
pro le

Observe and play with sensory toys

The next step is to observe your child’s play and join in. This is referred to
as “meeting your child where they are” or “following the child’s lead”. By
doing this, parents can understand their child’s rhythm and preferences
before joining them in play

Let your child with autism know you want to play

Parents need to make sure their child knows someone is interested in
playing with them. Parents must be supportive and engaged in their
child’s chosen activity and show interest in all the moving parts of the
play. Children who feel that the world they have created is valued and
acknowledged will likely be motivated to stay engaged longer

Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?
Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?

Participate in play therapy technique

Be sure to include yourself in the child’s play. This may look like posing a
challenge to the child and putting yourself into their play world. Entice
your child to include you in their play. Then, use some e ect to engage
the child. This may take the form of any of the ve senses. For example,
adding sound e ects or making a silly face could be engaging. If your
child is comfortable with touch, this could be a useful addition to play
(i.e., running a Matchbox car up their arm)

Keep the play routine fresh by changing sensory toys

Finally, parents need to change or add an element to the play. This will
extend the play and keep the child from falling into repetitive behaviors
or patterns. (Key Take-Aways The nuts and bolts of the Floortime
session, 2015)

Talk to a child therapist about adding Floortime

Finding a specialist is imperative to the success of Floortime therapy. Whether you choose to conduct
Floortime at home or see a specialist practice it with your child, a child therapist may help provide metrics to
measure your child’s success and solutions to roadblocks you may hit along the way. It is important to note
that for optimal success in Floortime, families commit to practicing it regularly for a prolonged period.

If you think this could be a helpful addition to your child’s behavioral therapies, speak to your child’s
pediatrician, occupational therapist, or psychiatrist for a referral to a psychologist who specializes in DIR
Floortime. Additionally, it may be helpful to include sessions in your child’s school day. Many schools will
accommodate this request through an Individualized Education Plan.

Occupational therapists or other professionals are often open to drafting exercises that parents can do with
their children at home. Don’t be shy to ask!

Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?
Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?

In summary

As compared to typically developing children, children with autism or special needs often require the right
individualized form of therapy to assist their development. DIR Floortime is a proven form of therapy believed
to assist in the holistic development of various faculties to help autistic children thrive throughout their
lifespan.

With the right training and in conjunction with a therapist’s recommendation, parents can implement the
strategies of DIR Floortime at home. It’s important to ensure your autistic child is able to apply what they
learn in therapy at home. Just remember, every child is unique and di erent therapy approaches will work
best for di erent children.

Can DIR Floortime Help Kids With Autism Develop Communication Skills?