DIR/Floortime is a relationship-based, play-focused approach that supports a child’s social, emotional, and communication development. It helps children build meaningful connections and learn through playful, back-and-forth interactions with trusted adults.

DIR/Floortime is built on three main principles:

• Developmental: Meeting each child at their current emotional and social stage and guiding them toward the next step in their development.

• Individual Differences: Understanding and respecting how each child uniquely processes the world through their senses, movement, and emotions.

• Relationship-Based: Using nurturing, responsive interactions to build trust, motivation, and engagement. Together, these principles create a foundation for lifelong learning, emotional growth, and stronger relationships.

This approach is especially helpful for children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, or social communication challenges. It can also benefit any child who needs extra support with attention, flexibility, or emotional regulation.

Floortime® focuses on connection before correction. Instead of teaching skills through drills, therapists and caregivers join the child in play to help them climb the developmental ladder—improving attention, flexibility, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and communication in natural, motivating ways.

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and DIR/Floortime® share the goal of helping children learn and grow, but they approach it differently.

• ABA focuses on teaching specific behaviors or skills through structured prompts, rewards, and repetition.

• Floortime® focuses on emotional connection and shared joy as the starting point for learning. Instead of reinforcing specific behaviors, we use play and relationships to help a child build understanding, problem-solving, and flexible thinking.

Many families appreciate how Floortime® supports intrinsic motivation — helping children learn because they want to engage, not just because they’re prompted to.

Yes! Parents are an essential part of the process. Sessions often involve guiding parents to use Floortime strategies at home so the connection and progress continue beyond the clinic or session. Many families find that these techniques deepen their bond and make everyday moments—like playtime or mealtime—more enjoyable and meaningful.

Yes! Many families integrate Floortime with speech therapy, occupational therapy, or educational supports. It complements other approaches by focusing on the emotional and relational foundation that supports all learning.

Some common strategies include:

• Following the child’s lead and joining in their play or interests

• Opening and closing “circles of communication” through back-and-forth exchanges

• Expanding on the child’s ideas to promote imagination and flexible thinking

• Modeling emotional expression and problem-solving within play

• Coaching parents to use everyday moments to support growth at home

DIR/Floortime has been studied in several research trials and systematic reviews, and the evidence suggests it can support meaningful growth in children’s social, emotional, and communication skills.

DIR/Floortime in Engaging Autism: A Systematic Review (2023, Divya et al.) found that children showed substantial progress in emotional functioning, communication, and daily living skills. Parents also reported improved interactions and stronger connections with their children.

Child Development Outcomes of DIR/Floortime TM-based Programs: A Systematic Review” (2020, Boshoff et al.) found positive effects for socio-emotional development (e.g. better relationship building, emotional understanding).