At MPPT, our OTs always strive to provide client-centered, holistic, strengths-based approaches to therapy to help children to grow and develop. One way we are able to do this, is through the use of the DIRFloortime approach. This approach enables our OTs to engage with children and develop their social, emotional, and play skills. These skills are foundational to overall development and interacting with the world around us. Therapists are able to teach parents ways to promote these skills.
What is DIRFloortime?
DIRFloortime is an “inside-out” approach that targets children’s development through the use of relationships. With this “inside-out” approach, therapists and parents observe what is going on beneath the surface of behaviors and attempt to address the underlying causes of behaviors. Using affectively charged relationships, therapists and parents are able to engage with the child and create emotional connections. This serves as the basis for the child developing intrinsic motivation. With the use of DIRFloortime, therapists and parents follow the child’s lead and engage with the child on their level, using affect to encourage the child’s development in areas of regulation, engaging and relating to the word, communication, problem solving, and continued development in social-emotional capacities.
Why DIRFloortime?
DIRFloortime is used to target the development of children’s social and emotional skills. It is often used with children with autism and sensory processing disorders. DIRFloortime approach focuses on the child’s interests and strengths and targets core deficits rather than just the outward behaviors present. This approach allows the parent and therapist to support the child in their development of relating, communicating, reasoning, and thinking.