Today, we continue our discussion of the FloorTime approach.
FloorTime operates on the premise there are stages of Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities.
Stage 1: Regulation and Interest in the World
Stage 2: Engaging and Relating
Stage 3: Intentionality and Two Way Communiation
Stage 4: Social Problem Solving, Mood Regulation and Formation of Sense of Self
Stage 5: Creating Symbols and Using Words and Ideas
Floortime is one component of the relationship-based approach shared by Stanley Greenspan, M.D. and Serena Wieder, Ph.D. In The Child With Special Needs (1998), they described Floortime as "the heart" of the developmental approach to therapy (p. 123).
Relationships are critical to a child's development. Through interactions, you can mobilize a child's emotions in the service of his learning. By interacting with a child in ways that capitalize on his emotions, you can help him want to learn how to attend to you; you can help him want to learn how to engage in a dialogue; you can inspire him to take initiative, to learn about causality and logic, to act to solve problems even before he speaks and moves into the world of ideas. As together you open and close many circles of communication in a row you can help him connect his emotions and his intent with his behavior (such as pointing for a toy) and eventually with his words and ideas ("Give me that!"). In helping him link his emotions to his behavior and his words in a purposeful way, instead of learning by rote, you enable your child to begin to relate to you and the world more meaningfully, spontaneously, flexibly, and warmly. He gains a firmer foundation for advanced cognitive skills.
Remember that The main thinking behind FloorTime intervention is
- Follow the Child's Lead and Join Him/Her
- Draw the Child out into a Shared World With New Experiences
For more ideas on how to's, the Department of Health in Florida has developed a detailed resource that could help a parent get started with FloorTime.
.http://www.floridahealth.gov/alternatesites/cms-kids/providers/early_steps/training/documents/floor_time.pdf.
I would love to hear others experiences with FloorTime!
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