So now you know the DIR, what comes next?
Floortime!
Floortime is the direct practical application of the DIR framework. In order to support a child’s development, we need to interact with them in a way that is meaningful and fun for them. And what do children so best? PLAY!
It is time for you to revert back to your childhood and bring back the playfulness that children crave. Floortime is essentially using play as a tool to help children climb up the developmental ladder (refer to the DIR Framework). So that means that you need to enter into your child’s world, and connect with them through playful experiences, to then create a shared world where healthy and positive development can occur. When you play with your child, you can progressively make the game more challenging, create more opportunities for reciprocal communication and help your child be able to meaningfully engage with others.
Floortime can be used for any and every child and is a timely reminder for adults to engage in playful experiences. With life being so fast-paced and technology taking over the world, many adults have forgotten the art of play. Here are a few tips for how you can integrate Floortime or play into your life at home…
You can teach your child so many skills through play such as – problem solving, conflict resolution, empathy, emotional regulation, sharing and turn-taking and two-way communication. Playful experiences are the doorway to positive childhood development.
Now you have a few tips for how you can implement Floortime/play into your life, it’s time to put theory into practise. Happy playing!
Kait is passionate about her work of supporting children and their families to feel confident and competent to meet the joys and challenges of day to day life. Her work as a paediatric OT has allowed her to develop specialist skills in play, toileting, feeding and self help skills.
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Jump Up For Kids Clinic, Attunga St,
Bald Hills QLD 4036, Australia
PO BOX 7, Sandgate QLD 4017