What is Floortime Play Therapy?

Floortime play therapy (often called DIR/Floortime) is a developmental approach used primarily with children, especially those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental delays.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

Floortime summarized in a nutshell

• Floortime stands for literally getting “down on the floor” to interact with a child through play.

• It was developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Serena Wieder as part of the DIR model (Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based).

• The goal is not to “fix” behaviors but to build on the child’s strengths, interests, and natural emotions to encourage growth.

Core principles of Floortime Play Therapy

1. Developmental – Focuses on key milestones like attention, communication, emotional thinking, problem-solving, and social skills.

2. Individual differences – Every child processes the world differently (sensory preferences, motor skills, learning styles). Therapy adapts to the child’s needs.

3. Relationship-based – Emotional connections with caregivers and therapists drive learning.

How it works in practice

• Adults follow the child’s lead in play instead of directing.

• The therapist or parent joins the child in their chosen activity (e.g., blocks, pretend play, cars).

• Through interaction, the adult gently encourages engagement, communication, shared attention, and back-and-forth exchanges.

• Over time, these interactions support development in language, emotional regulation, social interaction, and flexible thinking.

Example

If a child is spinning a toy car, instead of stopping them, the adult might:

• Spin another car alongside → child notices → shared attention.

• Block the car with a toy animal → child reacts → social interaction.

• Create a little story around the play → encourages imagination and communication.

Who benefits

• Children with autism spectrum disorder

• Kids with speech, language, or social delays

• Children struggling with emotional regulation or engagement

It’s often used by therapists, but parents are encouraged to use daily Floortime moments at home to strengthen connection and development.

I used it with a very anxious student in my class and it was a resounding success. I had chosen Floortime Therapy to do a case study for my Graduate Diploma in Teaching Students with Autism. His social skills, play skills, and communication improved and I learnt the value of making Relationships the central theme in my teaching.

In teaching, we have what is referred to as 'evidence-based approaches and these have been used and evaluated as successful strategies to use in teaching. Floortime Play Therapy is one such approach to use with autistic children.

I have presented you with some success stories for Floortime Play Therapy below. The links are there for you to use, if you want to read more about each story.

Evidence-Based and Clinical Success Stories

Joey’s Journey

A child referred to as Joey engaged in six daily Floortime sessions over three years, which led to marked improvements in social engagement and communication. Parents reported that these structured yet child-led interactions fostered significant developmental gains. achievingstarstherapy.com

Long-Term and Measurable Gains

Multiple studies highlight benefits including:

• Enhanced social interaction

• Improved emotional regulation

• Gains in cognitive and communication skills

• Reduced caregiver stress

• Strengthened parent-child relationships Skill Point TherapyWonDIRfulPlayABA Therapist Jobs

These studies often demonstrate that children who receive Floortime show statistically significant progress compared to those using more traditional behavioral methods. WonDIRfulPlay+1My Team ABA

Parent Testimonials & Real-Life Stories

TheraSchool Success

A parent of a 6-year-old with global developmental delays shared that after attending the Greenspan Floortime TheraSchool, they witnessed remarkable changes. The child, once barely walking, is now running around the playground, initiating creative art, and expanding speech—all thanks to the loving, play-based environment. stanleygreenspan.com

Teresa & Edin’s Connection

On Affect Autism, a powerful story from mother Teresa describes how her child, Edin, progressed from meltdowns to managing frustration and staying engaged. Edin’s communication and play transformed, showing how profound Floortime’s emotional impact can be. affectautism.com

Oana’s Insights

Oana, a parent who participated in Floortime intensives, spoke about stepping into her role more mindfully. Their child, previously limited in speech, began saying “Yes, Mama,” pointing out vehicles, and deepening connection through daily moments. It’s a moving example of how emotional attunement fosters growth. affectautism.com

Voices from the Community (Reddit)

Reddit users also share meaningful perspectives:

“Yes. We only did DIR Floortime. … My kid is conversational and plays with other kids … I really believe Floortime made the difference because it made it so our bond with him was stronger.” Reddit

Another parent reflected on the long-term journey:

“It’s probably taken a good 2 years but we saw relationship gains pretty quickly. The social improvements have steadily come over the last 2 years.” Reddit

These posts highlight that while progress may unfold slowly, deep connections and sustained change are commonplace.

Summary Table

Source	Outcome Highlights
Clinical Studies	Emotional, social, and communication growth; reduced stress
TheraSchool Case	Mobility, creativity, speech gains
Parent Reflections	Handling frustration, communication breakthroughs
Floortime Intensive	Daily connection routines, first words, joint attention
Online Community	Greater parent–child bond, improved social engagement over time

In Conclusion

Floortime Play Therapy has fostered profound successes—from scientific studies to heartfelt parent narratives. Children have made strides in emotional, social, and cognitive domains, and families consistently highlight improved communication and deeper bonds.

To read my post on how I worked with a student to develop his skills through Floortime Play Therapy, please follow this link Floortime Play Therapy: How to Engage the Disengaged Autistic Student

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