However, Floortime is actually a strategy within the DIR model that emphasizes the creation of emotionally meaningful learning exchanges that encourage developmental abilities.
The goal of treatment within the DIR model is to build foundations for typical development rather than to work only on the surface of symptoms and behaviors.
The DIR model is based on the assumption that the core developmental foundations for thinking, relating, and communicating can be favorably influenced by work with children's emotions and their effects.
The DIR model was developed to tailor to each child and to involve families much more intensively than approaches have in the past.
Likewise, the model views children as being individuals who are very different and who vary in their underlying sensory processing and motor capacities.
The Floortime Model is a developmental intervention focusing on affect and the relationship between child and parent to promote development.
It involves meeting a child at his or her current developmental level, and challenging them to move up the hierarchy of milestones outlined in the DIR Model.
[4] The DIR Model and the Floortime Approach work in two general parts: Assessment and Intervention.
There are four different areas that the Floortime Approach aims its interventions: 1) Home 2) Educational Programs 3) Therapies 4) Play Dates.
As an added efficiency measure, Individualized Educational Plans (IEP) can be collaboratively created and tailored for a child by his or her primary caregivers, teachers, or clinician.
[15] In 2020, Boshoff et al. concluded in their systematic review over nine studies that an increase in children's socio-emotional development is observed through various outcome measures and consistent with the focus of the model.
[16][17][18] No evidence of effectiveness has been found across the many trials that have been performed[19] Language function in the Floortime groups did not improve beyond what was observed in the controls.