Overview
Through a developmental therapy method called DIR Floortime (DIR), therapists at Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley work with families through play to build healthy social, emotional and intellectual interactions between a caregiver and their child.
What is DIR Therapy?
At Easterseals, DIR can be included when a child takes part in occupational therapy, speech language or mental health services. The services are tailored to best reach a child’s needs and build connection to improve relationships and abilities at home, at school and their community. With 1,000 children receiving services each week, Easterseals therapists best understand how to help each parent feel empowered to help their child thrive today and in the future.
How Does DIR work?
DIR honors a child’s specific interests and intentions, and to the casual observer, DIR looks a lot like play. We understand that play is the avenue for learning and it's how children learn small and huge concepts. Since play is fun for a child, they’re more likely to engage with and enjoy play-based therapy.
As children grow along the social-emotional developmental scale, they build skills to help maintain and build warm and trusting attachments, initiate communication and eventually learn problem-solving skills. The therapy changes as a child develops, and with DIR, the parent is always an integral part of that.
Building Caregiver Relationships
An important component to DIR is caregiver involvement, they are an active part of each therapy session. We work through the most primary relationships in a child’s life, which is a parent, grandparent or caregiver. Because DIR is about relationships, we build a triad of therapist, child and caregiver working together. Strong relationships help the child and caregiver reach a better outcome through DIR — and, during therapy, parents learn how best to connect with their child and meet their needs. We know a child’s cues can be limited and hard to read, we want each parent to understand their child and their behavior to better connect.
How do I get started?
Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley offers these services through tele-therapy, and at our centers in Villa Park, Naperville, and Elgin.
To get started or learn more, contact or call us at 630.282.2022.
