Becoming a
Floortime Family
The Journey of Learning to Support
the Individual Differences of Each
Family Member
Annie Campbell M.O.M & Kianna Collier, MOT, OTR/L
Everyone is unique and special!
“Everybody is a genius.
But if you judge a fish
by its ability to climb a
tree, it will live its
whole life believing
that it is stupid.”
Albert Einstein
Activity
 Write down the greatest
concern that you have
for your child.
 Write down what you
think the “experts” say
you should do to fix the
problem.
Example
Problems
“Solution”
My child is not
interested in
playing with
me
Act out a
pretend play
sequence and
be repetitive or
learn to accept
that your child
may not have
that ability
My child has
terrible
behavior when
we…
Try to make a
predictable
routine so that
you can support
your child’s
behavior
Our Family’s Journey
Early
Intervention
Behavior
Therapy
• Diagnosis
given at
age 2.5
• Introduced
to
“Floortime”
• Started BT
at age 3
• School
district
placement
“Ah ha”
moment
• 9 months
later had “Ah
ha” moment
• Focus changed
to building a
relationship
with my son
Jackson
11 years old
Interests: Lego's, ships, loves to play with his sisters,
loves to climb trees
Strengths: Compassionate about others feelings, amazing
memory, building and creating things, visual skills, very
confident
Accomplishments: Communication, understanding how to
make friends and connect with others, riding a bike and
not qualifying for special education
Current Individual Differences: Has HFA, struggles to
understand social nuances, his “brain is like a computer
and sometimes it has to refresh”, very honest but
considerate of others, and follows directions to a T
“I’m a little like Einstein, I like to think of really
hard questions”
Video clip of Jackson’s
Progression
Becoming a Floortime Family
Developing Strong Relationships
“ In family relationships love is spelled, T-I-M-E”
Deiter Uchtdorf (adapted from Dr. Anthony P. Witham)
“It
doesn’t matter [what you teach them], until
they know how much you care”. (adapted from John C.
Maxwell)






Play, laugh and work together
Validate your child’s intent
Focus on your child’s strengths
Know and understand your child’s ID
Solve problems together
Don’t forget that you are the Mom & Dad!
Individual Differences
Let us focus on one
another's strengths and
differences that make us
unique, rather than
looking at characteristics
and challenges as
disabilities.
Individual Differences: The Roots of
Development
 Language Abilities
 Sensory
Processing/Preferenc
es
 Ideation and Motor
Planning
 Visual Spatial Skills
 Cognitive Skills
 Affect
Children will Learn What You
Teach Them
Core Developmental Levels
Emotiona
l Thinking
Symbolic
Shared
Problem
Solving
Two Way
Communication
Engagement
Regulation and Interest in
the World
Higher Levels of Development=
Academic Success
 Multicausal and Triangular Thinking
 Gray-Area Emotionally Differentiated Thinking
 Self-Reflection, Sense of Self
"It seems that for success in science or art, a dash of
autism is essential." - Hans Asperger
Steps to Genuine Self-Esteem
1. “Play with your [children] and take pride in the small
things [they do]”.
2. Encourage your child’s full participation in life tasks
3. “Keep raising the bar a little on your expectations,
always keeping [your child’s] level of development in
mind”.
4. “Let him see the gleam in your eye when he does
something a little more, or a little better, than he did the
day before”.
5. “Respectfully engage with [your child] even when he is
not doing good things, and then set appropriate limits”.
6. As your child grows older, help him describe the things
that he’s proud of and the things that he is less proud
of…”
Greenspan (Great Kids)
Birthday surprise
Encouraging Imagination and
Innovation
1. Value and respond to your [baby’s] natural interests
2. Ask questions that lead his ideas in new directions
3. Encourage him to use all his senses and parts of his body in
a variety of ways
4. Spur a child to master the fundamentals of a particular field
or activity in his own unique way
5. Encourage exploration and inquire, avoid jumping on
mistakes
6. Avoid rote learning. Engage a child’s personal experience
and interests in… all forms of study.
7. Encourage a child to think about and express his… vision for
the future…
Greenspan (Great Kids)
Puppy Treats
Learn to Follow the Lead of
Others
“Once a child can stop worrying that you
are going to interfere with what she wants
to do, she will let you join in and play
because playing together is actually more
fun.” Stanley Greenspan
General Tips
 Use your affect
 Don’t be afraid to act silly and play with your
children
 Bring out the best in your children and spouse
 Try to understand and validate the feelings of
each member of the family
 Spend individual time with each member of
the family
 Take time for yourself and your spouse
Jackson now
No one will be able to fight for your
child like you will.
No one knows your child like you do.
No one will make a bigger difference in
your child’s life than you.
Activity Part 2
Look at your question again…
Questions & Comments
"There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells
you it's going to be a butterfly.”
Anonymous
Thank you
References:
Greenspan, S. & Wieder, S. (2006), Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime
Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate and Think. Cambridge,
MA: Da Capo Press.
Greenspan, S. (2007), Great Kids. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.
Quotes:
http://stephanie-thejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/great-quotes-foraspergers-and-autism.html
http://webspace.webring.com/people/cb/butterfly3ss/page1bfquotes.html
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/101458-everybody-is-a-genius-but-ifyou-judge-a-fish
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-mattermost?lang=eng