DIR/Floortime Explained (Without the Jargon)
If you’ve heard the term DIR/Floortime and felt lost in the jargon, you’re not alone. Many parents are curious about this approach but find the language overwhelming. Let’s break it down simply, so you can see how it works — and how it can help your child.
What Is DIR/Floortime?
DIR/Floortime is a developmental approach to supporting children. Instead of focusing only on behaviors or isolated skills, it looks at the whole child — their emotions, thinking, sensory needs, and relationships.
The idea is simple: children grow best when they feel connected and engaged. DIR/Floortime helps adults use play and interaction to support development step by step.
Breaking Down DIR
DIR stands for Developmental, Individual, and Relationship-based. Each part matters.
D= Developmental
Children develop in capacities, or steps. These are called Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs). For example, a child first learns to stay calm and connected, then to engage with others, then to take turns and communicate back-and-forth.
👉 We’ll look at these capacities in more detail later, but for now, know that DIR sees development as a process — not a checklist.
I = Individual Differences
Every child is unique. Some are sensitive to sound, others seek out movement, some need extra time to process words. DIR honors these individual differences instead of forcing every child into the same mold.
R= Relationship-Based
Children grow through relationships. When a parent, therapist, or teacher connects warmly, follows the child’s lead, and builds on their ideas, the child learns faster and feels more motivated.
Floortime is about joining a child in play, getting on their level, and turning everyday moments into growth opportunities.
What Does Floortime Look Like?
Floortime isn’t complicated. It can be as simple as:
Sitting on the floor while your child plays.
Joining their game, even if it’s spinning a toy or stacking blocks.
Waiting and watching for their signals.
Adding a little extra — a gesture, sound, or playful challenge — to keep the interaction going.
👉 The goal isn’t to lead the child, but to create back-and-forth moments where learning naturally unfolds.
A Quick Look at the First Capacities
DIR organizes development into steps called FEDCs. Here’s a quick, parent-friendly peek at the first three (we’ll dive deeper in the next post):
FEDC 1: Regulation & Shared Attention – being calm enough to engage, noticing people and things around them.
FEDC 2: Engagement & Relating – enjoying being with others, showing joy in the interaction.
FEDC 3: Two-Way Communication – starting back-and-forth exchanges with gestures, sounds, or actions.
Each step builds on the last. Children need a strong base in regulation and engagement before they can move into communication and problem-solving.
Why DIR/Floortime Matters
This approach matters because it:
Builds skills from the inside out, not just surface behaviors.
Helps parents join their child’s world instead of trying to pull them into ours.
Creates joy in learning, making development feel natural instead of forced.
DIR/Floortime is used worldwide to support children with autism, ADHD, sensory differences, and developmental delays. But its principles — connection, respect, play — benefit all children.
The Big Picture
DIR/Floortime isn’t about doing therapy “right.” It’s about slowing down, following your child’s lead, and turning everyday play into growth.
This post is just the beginning. In our next post, we’ll explore the first three FEDCs in detail — what they look like, and how you can support them at home.
If you’d like to see how DIR/Floortime could support your child right now, I’d be happy to talk with you.