A Parent’s Guide to FEDCs in DIR/Floortime

If you’ve been following along with our blog, you know that DIR/Floortime is built around something called Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs). These are the steps children move through as they grow — from staying calm, to connecting with others, to building complex thinking.

This post brings all of our FEDC articles together in one place, so you can easily explore each stage and see how they fit into your child’s development.

What Are FEDCs?

FEDCs are the building blocks of development in the DIR/Floortime model. Each capacity represents a step in how children relate, communicate, and think. They’re not boxes to check off quickly — they’re stages that build on one another, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

The FEDC Series

Here’s the full series, explained in plain language for parents:

• DIR/Floortime Explained Without the Jargon

  An overview of the DIR model and a quick introduction to the developmental capacities.

• Understanding the First Three FEDCs: The Foundation of DIR/Floortime

  FEDC 1: Regulation & Shared Attention

  FEDC 2: Engagement & Relating

  FEDC 3: Two-Way Communication

• Understanding FEDCs 4–6: Building Problem-Solving and Emotional Thinking

  FEDC 4: Shared Social Problem-Solving

  FEDC 5: Using Ideas (pretend play, imagination)

  FEDC 6: Logical Thinking

• Understanding Higher FEDCs (7–9): Expanding Abstract and Reflective Thinking

  FEDC 7: Flexible Thinking

  FEDC 8: Emotional Thinking

  FEDC 9: Reflective Thinking

Why This Matters for Parents

When you understand the FEDCs, you can:

• See where your child shines and where they might need support.

• Join your child in play at the right level.

• Celebrate progress in small but meaningful steps.

• Build confidence that your child is growing in their own time and way.

The Big Picture

DIR/Floortime gives us a roadmap for supporting children’s growth. From calming and connecting, to problem-solving and reflection, each step matters. By meeting children where they are and supporting the next level, we help them grow stronger, more flexible, and more confident.

If you’d like help understanding your child’s developmental capacities — and what you can do at home — I’d be happy to talk with you.