dir floortime®
SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS
dir floortime® program
The Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based (DIR) Floortime program is an innovative and child-centered approach to supporting young children in developing core play, communication, and social skills. Grounded in the principles of developmental psychology, DIR Floortime emphasizes meeting children at their current developmental stage and using play to nurture their social-emotional growth. The program encourages caregivers and therapists to join the child in their world of interests, using these as a foundation for building meaningful interactions. By focusing on shared engagement and emotional connection, DIR Floortime fosters the fundamental skills children need to navigate relationships and express themselves effectively.
One of the unique aspects of DIR Floortime is its individualized approach. The program recognizes that every child is different, with their own sensory preferences, communication styles, and emotional needs. Sessions are tailored to the child’s specific profile, allowing them to explore, play, and connect in ways that feel natural and supportive. Through carefully guided interactions, children learn critical skills such as taking turns, sharing attention, managing emotions, and problem-solving. These foundational abilities not only enhance their play skills but also pave the way for stronger social connections and cognitive growth.
DIR Floortime is particularly effective for children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or other challenges affecting communication and socialization. The program emphasizes the importance of building relationships as the cornerstone for all learning, creating a nurturing environment where children feel understood and supported. By empowering caregivers to play an active role in their child’s progress, DIR Floortime strengthens the parent-child bond and ensures that the skills learned in sessions are reinforced in daily life. This holistic, relationship-based approach helps children thrive by nurturing their individuality and fostering a lifelong love for learning and connection.
HOW'S THIS WHOLE THING WORK?
FIRST- WE MEET YOUR FAMILY AND CHILD TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PEER GROUP WILL BE MOST APPROPRIATE
THEN WE WILL PLACE YOUR CHILD IN A GROUP WITH DEVELOPMENTALLy, AGE AND SOCIALLY APPROPRIATE PEERS
DURING GROUP YOUR CHILD WILL BEPROVIDED INSTRUCTION & GUIDANCE AND ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH PEERS.
YOU ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR SUCCESS AND WILL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS WELL WITH HOMEWORK/ PRACTICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT!
WHAT DOES A FLOORTIME GROUP AIM TO HELP WITH?
AGE APPROPRIATE PLAY SKILLS
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
FLEXIBLE THINKING WITH PEERS
SOCIAL PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
EMOTIONAL REGULATION AROUND PEERS
MEET THE TEAM
Curtis Valvo,B.S.
PEERS® Certified Provider & Social Skills Program Director
Anna Fogle, OTR
DIR Floortime®
Certified Provider
Maria Vorel, M.A.
Laura Labus, COTA/L
Social Coach
Social Coach
QUICK FAQ'S
GROUPS MEET WEEKLY AT THE SAME TIME AND PLACE.
GROUPS ARE ONLY RUN OUT OF OUR EDMOND LOCATION
GROUPS COST $40 PER WEEKLY SESSION.
GROUPS RUN YEAR ROUND
How will my child’s placement in a group be determined?
We have a well-earned reputation for taking care to match students with like-minded & developmentally appropriate peers. Our own experience — as parents and as professionals — informs our belief that students learn best about satisfying social interaction with peers they are can identify and connect with. We take the time to learn about each child and his or her family before we determine whether we can offer placement in a group. After careful review of each applicant, if we potentially have a good group to offer, we schedule an intake meeting with each child and their family. We discuss the family’s goals, the student’s learning needs, and potential group placements to determine the best fit. Only then do we offer placement in a social group.
What do you do in your groups? How exactly how do you teach them?
In a naturalistic social skills group like DIR Floortime, teaching occurs organically through everyday interactions and activities rather than through rigid instruction or predefined scripts. Children or teens engage in play, collaborative tasks, or casual conversations, with facilitators subtly guiding and shaping their behavior in real time. This approach allows participants to practice skills like turn-taking, sharing, resolving conflicts, and interpreting social cues in authentic, meaningful contexts. Naturalistic learning leverages the power of real-world experiences, making the skills more relevant and easier to generalize to everyday situations. By embedding teaching moments within natural interactions, this method not only builds social competence but also fosters confidence, spontaneity, and a deeper understanding of social dynamics, all while maintaining a fun and engaging environment.
Parent education and support?
To help a child with social learning challenges grow and flourish, parents need to know when to take a different approach, try out new skills, or shift their thinking in some way. Sometimes our children’s social learning differences mean that they don’t learn social lessons as readily from conventional parenting approaches. Along with every lesson your child learns in their group, parents are provided education and guidance for how to help their child learn, practice and generalize these skills in their homes and communities. We provide hands on/digital materials for the content, provide social stories, video modeling and much more to every parent who attends.