Social-emotional-intellectual development has an overall human development starting at birth and continues throughout the lifespan. DIR – Developmental, Individual-differences, & Relationship-based model – provides a foundational framework for understanding how each person individually perceives and interacts with the world differently. The DIR model strengthens social, emotional, and intellectual connections to fuel development. The objective is to promote healthy development and help every child reach their fullest potential.
DIR Floortime – An Application of DIR Model into Practice
The DIR model helps promote the positive development of all children while DIR Floortime and Play Therapy are most commonly utilized in combination for children to assess and develop an intervention program tailored to the unique challenges and strengths of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental challenges. The goals of DIR Floortime and Play Therapy are to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities.
What Development Challenges in Children are DIR Floortime & Play Therapy Used For?
The DIR Floortime and play therapy are used for children with the following developmental challenges:
- Autism
- PDD-Nos
- ADD and ADHD
- Language and Processing Delays or Disorders
- Sensory Integration Disorders (Sensory Processing Disorder – SPD)
What is the Difference between DIR and Floortime and How are They Related?
The DIR model is a complete framework that enables clinicians, parents, and educators to construct a program tailored to the child’s unique challenges and strengths. It includes, in addition to DIR Floortime, various other problem-solving exercises and typically involves a team approach with speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, mental health (developmental-psychological) intervention, and educational programs.
The DIR Floortime is a specific technique to develop a child’s natural emotional interests and help build skills in social, emotional, and intellectual capacities. DIR Floortime therapy is aimed at promoting young children to get engaged with playful interactions that may occur on the floor, and also include conversations and interactions in other places. DIR Floortime involves parents and other family members as critical role players. It is because of their emotional relationships with the child.
Play Therapy Approach
Play therapy is started once a child is fully engaged and interactive, in collaboration with parents and or the child’s family members. It builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children, helps children to express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. Play therapy promotes cognitive development and provides insight about and resolution of inner conflicts or dysfunctional thinking in the child.
At Hope AMC, the DIR Floortime and play therapy specialists work collaboratively with the parents of the child the give the best care for their child. The goal is to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities rather than focusing on skills and isolated behaviors. Our specialists think that developmental problems need developmental solutions. In the line with understanding and experience, we have developed an integrated social, emotional, and intellectual framework to promote overall development for children with special needs.
To get more details or consult with our DIR floortime and play therapy specialists in Dubai, click here
