Pediatric developmental therapy
Dream, play, grow
DIR/Floortime is a gentle, relationship-based developmental therapy, especially effective for children with autism. Through play, children explore, connect, and transform everyday moments into joyful discovery and functional growth. We look beyond behaviors to understand the biological and developmental reasons behind them.
The heart of DIR:
DIR foundations
Circles of
Communication
Children and adults engage in back-and-forth signaling. Each such “circle” builds shared attention and connection — the essential building blocks for all future conversation.
Play-Based
Development
Learning unfolds through child-led play. Curiosity, imagination, and logical thinking grow naturally as children explore the world around them. They build the skills to climb the developmental ladder.
Parent
Partnership
Parents are the heart of the team. You’ll learn to use purposeful affect to foster co-regulation: balancing emotions together so your child stays calm, engaged, and ready to learn.
What parents want to know about DIR
1. What is DIR/Floortime therapy?
It’s a relationship-based developmental therapy that helps children grow through play and meaningful connection. Instead of focusing on behaviors, DIR meets your child where they are—gently building communication, emotional regulation, and social-problem solving in ways that feel natural and joyful.
2. How is DIR/Floortime different from other therapies?
Unlike structured or drill-based approaches, DIR focuses on your child’s individual profile, sensory needs, and emotional development. It emphasizes connection first, letting learning unfold naturally through back-and-forth signaling and real-life experiences.
3. How does DIR/Floortime compare to the Son-Rise Program?
Both approaches are relationship-based, but they differ in setting and goals:
- DIR/Floortime: Uses purposeful affect (emotional energy) to build developmental milestones across all environments—home, school, and community. It is a clinical model led by trained therapists.
- Son-Rise Program: Creates connection by joining a child’s repetitive behaviors in a quiet, controlled room, often guided primarily by parents or volunteers.
DIR/Floortime emphasizes long-term developmental growth, while Son-Rise focuses more on calm, one-on-one connection.
4. What ages can benefit from DIR/Floortime therapy?
DIR/Floortime supports children from infants through school age, and sometimes older. Because we focus on the developmental ladder rather than chronological age, therapy is tailored to your child’s unique stage of growth.
5. Where do sessions take place?
DIR/Floortime happens in the environments that are most meaningful to your child—home, school, daycare, or community settings.Working in natural environments helps children generalize their new skills and maintain co-regulation throughout their daily lives.
6. How are parents involved?
Parents are key partners in DIR/Floortime. You’ll learn to read your child’s sensory and motor cues and use your own affect to support their growth. You aren’t just observing; you are gaining the tools to foster development every day.
7. Is DIR/Floortime covered by insurance?
Yes. All NJ Medicaid plans and most commercial insurance policies cover DIR/Floortime therapy. We verify your benefits upfront so you know exactly what’s covered before starting.
8. How long does it take to see progress?
Every child’s nervous system is unique. While some show changes quickly, others progress gradually as they build a stronger developmental foundation. Lasting growth takes time, but parent involvement is the greatest “accelerator” for progress.
9. What should I expect at the first evaluation?
It’s a collaborative, low-pressure process. Our clinicians observe how your child signals, communicates, and regulates emotions. We look at their motor and sensory profile to create a map for our journey together.
DIR: Climbing the Developmental ladder
The 6 Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs)
Level
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Milestone
- Regulation & Interest
- Engaging & Relating
- Two-Way Communication
- Complex Communication and Problem Solving
- Symbolic Thinking
- Logical Bridges
What it looks like
- Staying calm, settled, and curious enough to take in the surroundings.
- Feeling a warm, joyful "spark" of connection with another person.
- Using a smile, a gesture, or sound to open and close "circles” of interaction.
- Linking many "circles" together to reach a goal or share a big feeling.
- Using words, art, or pretend play to share ideas and big emotions.
- Connecting ideas together with "why" and "because."
What DIR nurtures
Social and emotional growth
Shared interactions, emotional awareness, self-confidence
Stronger communication and regulation
Expressing wants and needs, focused attention, emotion control
A closer parent–child bond
Everyday closeness, shared feelings, deeper understanding
Thinking and imagination
Creative thinking, problem solving, imaginative play
What DIR nurtures
Social and emotional growth
Shared interactions, emotional awareness, self-confidence
Stronger communication and regulation
Expressing wants and needs, focused attention, emotion control
A closer parent–child bond
Everyday closeness, shared feelings, deeper understanding
Thinking and imagination
Creative thinking, problem solving, imaginative play
What DIR nurtures
Every dream begins
with a small step.
Through connection and understanding, DIR brings your dream closer to reality. We’re here to walk alongside you and help your child succeed.
