Our team joined a DIR/Floortime training day to deepen our understanding of how connection, play, and individual differences shape a child’s development.
DIR/Floortime is a relationship‑based approach that helps children grow through connection, play, and understanding their unique ways of experiencing the world. A learning day focused on this approach gives teams the chance to step back and think about how children develop socially and emotionally, and how adults can support that in everyday interactions.
DIR looks at three key ideas: a child’s developmental stage, their individual differences, and the relationships that help them learn. It encourages adults to notice how a child regulates their body, how they engage with others, and how they move toward shared attention and communication. Understanding these pieces helps us respond in ways that feel supportive and respectful.
Floortime brings these ideas into action. It’s about getting down on a child’s level, literally and emotionally, and joining their play with genuine interest. Instead of leading or directing, the adult follows the child’s ideas and uses those moments of connection to build communication, problem‑solving, and emotional expression. Play becomes the pathway for learning, confidence, and stronger relationships.
The day reinforced how important it is to meet each child where they are, notice their unique ways of engaging, and use play as a pathway for communication, problem‑solving, and emotional expression. It strengthened our team’s understanding of how small, responsive interactions can support a child’s development.
