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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

floortime. anybody use it?

37 replies

pillsthrillsandbellyaches · 16/03/2009 14:22

just wondering about your thoughts on floortime. i've been reading a bit about it lately and was thinking about getting Greenspans recent book on the subject.

does anyone have experience of floortime?

OP posts:

magso · 16/03/2009 14:35

Yes. Dont know which book you mean- is there a new one out? I have 'The child with special needs' and 'Engaging autism' which are both rather heavy reading but fitted in nicely with what I was instinctively/already doing with ds. Its probably worth doing a search as there is a web conference soon and a 'floortime repository'and it should give you the links which I can't today.
Bumping for others! I know others on here use floortime. It feels right for us.

Original poster

pillsthrillsandbellyaches · 16/03/2009 14:58

hi magso, thanks.

do you find it very time consuming?

i know it is supposed to be, but i wondered if everybody did it so intensively?

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Original poster

pillsthrillsandbellyaches · 16/03/2009 15:04

thanks for the link to floortime repository.

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magso · 16/03/2009 15:43

Ds was school age when I first heard of floortime so I fit it around on a if and when can basis - not as advised! Others are much more experienced than us. Hopefully they will be along later.

mrsturnip · 16/03/2009 21:11

I use it. Really like it (have previously used VB). I like the philosophy and theory behind it, and its easy to do. DS1 (9 years old, non-verbal, severely autistic) has responded very well to it.

There's an online course starting soon. I did it last year and it's pretty good. Or the PLAY dvd's are good for learning how to do it as well. (Or a consultant).

Original poster

pillsthrillsandbellyaches · 16/03/2009 21:11

i was worried that you had to start when kids were really young.

in what ways have you found it beneficial?

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Original poster

pillsthrillsandbellyaches · 16/03/2009 21:13

thanks mrs t !

whereabouts would i find details of the online course?

i haven't heard of the play dvd's either.

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mrsturnip · 16/03/2009 21:25

online course here I'm going to register for the meltdowns workshop. I've been taking quite a few of their courses because I need to do a certain amount each year for work and I figured it may as well be useful. They've been pretty good so far.

Here's the PLAY project DVD. You might need to check compatibility. Mine worked OK on my computer, but it was an older version.

We're working on early stages with ds1- so lots on regulation and using playful obstruction. He is responding to it well- thinks it's hilarious. And I find it constructive and easy to interact with him using FLoortime techniques. Like the people behind DIR/Floortime I really think that back and forth interaction is the key.

It may be unrelated but ds1 has just found his first ever totally independent activity (looks at photos on the computer). He stays focussed and does it without freaking out or getting cross. This is a massive step for him. He shows us the photos too, but in a non-shrieky shouty way which is nice.

Original poster

pillsthrillsandbellyaches · 16/03/2009 21:32

thanks for links!

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sphil · 16/03/2009 23:06

We use it too. Don't do it intensively at all - probably no more than 15-30 minutes a day (Floortime therapists would throw their hands up in horror!) We started ages ago, when DS2 was about 3, and it had a really positive effect. He'd been very aloof for about a year before that and it helped him to learn to connect with people again. We then moved onto doing an ABA/VB programme for a couple of years, because we felt he needed to learn to follow adult direction and imitate. We've just returned to Floortime (I did the same online course as MrsT last year and would recommend it)because DS2's play is pretty much stuck on one level (physical) and we want to try to move him on. It's fun to do - but I do feel I need more direction and supervision.

mrsturnip · 17/03/2009 10:25

sphil- do you use playful obstruction in your floortime sessions? It's made a big difference with ds1.

BriocheDoree · 17/03/2009 12:45

Was also wondering about doing the online course. Sphil, I'm reassured that you only do a little bit each day as I know that this isn't the aim, but DD is now 4.5 and at school. I just want something I can do with her that's play-based to encourage her interaction and concentration. Also might help with wee man. Still fairly-sure-but-not-utterly-convinced that he's NT and I'm sure it can't hurt.

nikos · 17/03/2009 13:05

Does anyone know how much the basic course is as couldn't find a price anywhere.

BriocheDoree · 17/03/2009 13:16

The conference is 175 dollars and the workshops are an extra 75 dollars each. If you go directly to online registration at www.stanleygreenspan.com/register/register.html and scroll down it gives all the details.
Shame the dollar's gotten a bit stronger recently!

nikos · 17/03/2009 13:20

Do you know what that roughly works out to in pounds?
Thank you for replying

BriocheDoree · 17/03/2009 14:03

175 dollars is about 130 quid, but depends on the rates that day and all that sort of thing.
NOT CHEAP, but cheaper than some of the other things I've seen. Also like the idea of online course, I must admit

mrsturnip · 17/03/2009 14:23

We only do a couple of short sessions a day- ds1 is at school the rest of the time, but it's changed the way we interact and the way we react to a meltdown and I find it far easier to get ds1's attention just generally when using general floortime principles.

sphil · 17/03/2009 22:15

Yes MrsT, we do the playful obstruction thing - he responds very well to it - laughs and comes back for more (usually!) It's moving onto a different type of play that I find difficult - though, having said that, we played a game today where we pretended to be driving in a car and screeching to a halt and he loved it.So maybe the faintest beginnings of imaginative play... I've also noticed slightly more interest in toys, though it's still very fleeting. And he's just learnt to use a computer mouse, so can access his beloved Youtube again . We have to try to find alternatives for the endless requests for jumping, swinging, spinning etc - I can't lift him much any more!

mrsturnip · 19/03/2009 09:08

yes your lifting is rather impressive!! Makes my eyes water. I wonder whether one of those swing trapeze things that fits in the doorway (they seem to sell them in the states) would work - he could do his upside down stuff then...

BriocheDoree · 19/03/2009 18:32

I dread the day I can no longer lift DD

sphil · 19/03/2009 22:28

Are you sure it was me lifting on the video and not his tutor? I can't believe you found my lifts impressive - I can only get him about waist height - whereas N could practically spin him round her head. Oh to be 23 again...

mrsturnip · 20/03/2009 13:49

It was you, upside down - well him upside down, not you! And your Mum. But in the main you- repeatedly. I have been very impressed (and worried about your back!). I tried to copy by picking ds3 up in the way you pick ds2 up, but I almost dropped him (and he's smaller and younger than your ds2) so I gave up!

sphil · 20/03/2009 22:40

Oh yes - the upside down thing - I can do that. He doesn't seem as heavy when I hold him like that tbh!

As for the back - Pilates

mrsturnip · 21/03/2009 09:47

He loves it! Luckily ds1 is too big, although he has been asking for dh's shoulders a lot recently. At 9 it's slightly ridiculous......

sc13 · 19/05/2009 11:40

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but how does one find out about Floortime online courses? I've been on the website and registered, what else do I need to do?
Thanks!!

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