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Floor Time Education Method Info for Children with Autism

Introduction

The Floortime approach focuses on building children's emotional development through social interactions.  FT challenges your child to be creative and spontaneous by having you get down on the floor and enter their world through interactive play.  The creator, Dr. Stanley Greenspan, believes that this process will help develop all areas of learning by building on your child's strengths and interests in a fun and inviting way.  FT is a warm creative way to build emotional connections and closer relationships.

Related Sites

Greenspan Floortime Approach
Description:  At this site, you can sign up for courses designed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan to learn more about Floortime. You will be able to watch videos of Floortime in action and read current articles about the Floortime Approach.

Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning
Description:  The Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to redefining and promoting each child's development to their fullest potential. This is the official website for DIRFloortime. There is a 45 minute detailed video of DIRFloortime by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and written explanations of Floortime.

How To Use Floortime
Description:  This is a FloorTime Fact sheet that breaks down FloorTime into easy to read sections.

Books

Floortime Strategies to Promote Development in Children and Teens by Andrea Davis Ph.D., Michelle Harwell M.S., and Lahela Isaacson M.S.
Description:  This organized guide was designed for parents, professionals, and caregivers of individuals with autism to improve interaction through floortime activities.

The Child With Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth by Stanley I. Greenspan
Description:  This collaboration by Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder highlights special adaptations needed for children with disabilities to meet developmental milestones. Aiding in both the intellectual as well as emotional growth for the special needs child, this book is also valuable for helping to deal with the stresses that come with the care of these children.

Engaging Autism: Helping Children Relate, Communicate and Think with the DIR Floortime Approach (A Merloyd Lawrence Book) by Stanley I. Greenspan
Description:  Designed for parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists who work with special needs children, this book promotes the author’s highly recognized Floortime teaching approach. With this technique, a child can begin at a very young age for intervention. In addition, the entire family can become involved with this process.

Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think by Stanley I. Greenspan
Description:  Developed by Stanley Greenspan, this book highlights his Floortime teaching approach which can be utilized very early in infancy. This book does not focus on changing behaviors, rather it showcases stepping stones for attaining emotional, social, and behavioral progression.

Tools

The Greenspan Floortime Approach Site
Description:  This YouTube video shows Dr. Stanley Greenspan guiding a family through the FloorTime Approach.

Circlestretch, A DIR/Floortime Resource
Description:  A 12 minute video about DIR/FloorTime and RDI by Dr. Josh Feder and Brooke Wagner is showcased at this site. In addition, this site also has other videos, audios, and web links.

DIR Floortime Short Introduction
Description:  Dr. Stanley Greenspan gives a 6 minute introduction to FloorTime in his own words.

Floortime Activities for Autistic Kids
Description:  This site provides you with an overview of the FloorTime Approach and give examples of Floortime activities you can start with your child.

DIR/Floortime
Description:  See and hear parents describe how their children with autism improve with DIR/Floortime.

Parent Forums/Blogs

Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.

Forum/Blog Name:  Presence Learning
Description:  Blog discussing Floor Time therapy for children with autism and its advantages.

Forum/Blog Name:  Floortimers
Description:  A forum where individuals using a Floortime approach can share ideas and provide support for one another.

Forum/Blog Name:  Floortime Repository
Description:  For parents and professionals using Floortime.

Forum/Blog Name:  DIR/Floortime Fresno
Description:  This Facebook page was created to educate families about the DIR Floortime model and how this form of intervention may help children with autism.