Tools
for Early Identification and Intervention - 0-5 years
The "Greenspan" Floor Time Model
Contents:

1. Goals of Floor Time Intervention
2. Glossary of Floor Time Terms
Closing the Circle: Allowing the child to close the
circle when child brings your extensions and expansions to a close.
Emotional Thinking: The child leans to elaborate
fantasies and to make connections between different ideas. (3 to 5 years)
Engagement: Babies coo, smile, gesture and exchange
motor movements with their partners. (0 to 8 months)
Extending and Expanding the Drama: Tuning in to the
child's imagination and ideas and taking them one step further through gestures and words.
Floor Time: A warm and intimate way of relating to
a child. A floor time philosophy means engaging, respecting and getting in tune with the
child in order to help the child elaborate through gestures, words, and pretend play what
is on the child's mind. As a technique, floor time is a five step process that is used to
support the emotional and social development of the child.
Following the Child's Lead: Seeing the child as the
director and yourself as the assistant director of the activity.
Observing: Noticing how the child is special and
unique in style, rhythm and mood.
Opening the Circle of Communication: Turning in and
following a child's special interest.
Shared Meanings: The child begins to communicate
ideas with words or pretend play. Emotional themes enter the child's play. The child uses
themes not only to express wants and needs but also to expand fantasies and creativity.
(18 month to 36 months)
Stages of Relating: Stages in emotional and social
development of children.
Two-Way Communication: The child is able to have an
emotional dialogue. Opening and closing circles can take place. You need to take an
interest in and respond to the child, and the child responds with gestural and verbal
reactions. (6 to 18 months)
3. Greenspan's
Model of Stages of Relating and Communicating
Stage 1: ENGAGEMENT (Birth to 8 months)
 | Does the baby smile joyfully in response to vocalization and facial
expression? What are the kinds of gestures the baby uses to elicit responses?
|
 | How does the baby use senses such as hearing, sight, and touch to
form attachments? Is child beginning to exchange motor movements?
|
 | How would you describe baby's temperament (stable, intense,
irritable, unresponsive, assertive)?
|
Stage 2: TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION (6 to 18 months)
 | What evidence is there that the child is reciprocating and copying
your behaviors and emotions?
|
 | Does the child begin to instigate activities based on own needs and
wants, rather than by imitation alone? How?
|
 | Provide examples of how the child combines gestures and words to
communicate.
|
 | What evidence is there that the child is beginning to understand
basic emotional themes, such as whether child is being approved of, is safe and secure, or
is being admired?
|
Stage 3: SHARED MEANINGS (18 to 36 months)
 | Provide examples of how the child is beginning to communicate ideas
through words.
|
 | How does the child use pretend play to communicate emotional themes
such as curiosity, independence and rejection?
|
 | Describe ways in which child makes wants, desires, and emotions know
through pretend play. Describe how pretend play becomes more complex.
|
Stage 4: EMOTIONAL THINKING (3 to 5 years)
 | How are feelings expressed?
|
 | What evidence do you have the child realizes the relationship between
feeling, behaviors, and consequences?
|
 | How would you describe the child's relationship with adults?
|
 | How does the child control impulses and stabilize moods?
|
 | How does the child interact with peers in pretend play?
|
 | Does the child help to structure and organize play themes?
|
4. Specific Goal
Behaviors and Strategies to Attain Them
Goal Behavior for child to become more: |
Floor Time Activities: |
alert & aware |
notice something is different discriminating
visual, auditory and other sensory information
recognizing that they are facing an obstacle
identifying the problem, etc. |
initiative taking |
encourage to be less passive in environment do not allow process to proceed in more or less automatic way
assist child to become more critical and ready to take action to
help self
it is critical to "wait" to give child chance to recognize
problem and realize they must be ones to start doing something about it |
flexible |
create small changes and problems to help child notice, initiate
and tolerate changes help child to learn to cope with by
solving problems and taking in more information |
able to sequence longer and more complex actions and
communications |
Have experiences which require taking as many steps as possible to
solve the problem at hand and to communicate: who wants
the problem solved
what they want solved
when they want it solved
where they want it solved
why they want it solved
how it can be solved
through actions, gestures and words |
able to mediate more ways to solve problems |
guide child through the process of solving problems do not tell or show how to do a skill (e.g., Where should we look?, Did you
check all the sides? Is there a tab? Let's try pulling. Does it work? Is it stuck? Do you
need a tool? |
5. Five Steps in Floor Time
Step One: OBSERVATION
Both listening to and watching a child are essential for effective
observation. Facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures, body posture,
and word (or lack of words) are all important clues that help you determine how to
approach the child, e.g.:
 | is a child's behavior relaxed or outgoing?
|
 | withdrawn or uncommunicative?
|
 | bubbling with excitement?
|
 | is child a real go-getter.
|
Step Two: APPROACH - OPEN CIRCLES OF COMMUNICATION
Once a child's mood and style have been assessed, you can approach
the child with the appropriate words and gestures. You can open the circle of
communication with a child by acknowledging the child's emotional tone, then elaborating
and building on whatever interests the child at the moment.
Step Three: FOLLOW THE CHILD'S LEAD
After your initial approach, following a child's lead simply means
being a supportive play partner who is an "assistant" to the child and allows
the child to set the tone, direct the action, and create personal dramas. This enhances
the child's self-esteem and ability to be assertive, and gives child a feeling that "I
can have an impact on the world." As you support the child's play, the child
benefits from experiencing a sense of warmth, connectedness and being understood.
Step Four: EXTEND AND EXPAND PLAY
As you follow the child's lead, extending and expanding a child's
play themes involves making supportive comments about the child's play without being
intrusive. This helps the child express own ideas and defines the direction of the drama.
Next, asking questions to stimulate creative thinking can keep the drama going, while
helping the child clarify the emotional themes involved, e.g.: suppose a child is crashing
a car: Rather than ask critically, Why are those cars crashing? You may respond
empathetically, Those cars have so much energy and are moving fast. Are they trying to
get somewhere?
Step Five: CHILD CLOSES THE CIRCLE OF COMMUNICATION
As you open the circle of communication when you approach the child,
the child closes the circle when the child builds on your comments and gestures with
comments and gestures of own. One circle flows into another, and many circles may be
opened and closed in quick succession as you interact with the child. By building on each
other's ideas and gestures, the child begins to appreciate and understand the value of two
way communication.
6. Strategies for Floor Time
Intervention
 | follow child's lead and join them - it does not matter what they do
as long as they initiate the move
|
 | persist in your pursuit
|
 | treat what child does as intentional and purposeful - give new
meanings
|
 | help child do what they want to do
|
 | position self in front of the child
|
 | invest in whatever child initiates or imitates
|
 | join perseverative play
|
 | do not treat avoidance or "no"as rejection
|
 | expand, expand, expand - keep going, play dumb, do wrong moves, do as
told, interfere etc.
|
 | do not interrupt or change the subject as long as it is interactive
|
 | insist on a response
|
 | do not turn the session into a learning or teaching experience
|
7. Questions to Ask
Yourself if You Are a Good Floor Timer
8. Props Needed for Floor Time
Food:
 | plastic vegetables and fruits etc.
|
 | plastic foods: chicken, hot dogs, eggs, bacon, french fries etc.
|
 | plastic dishes, cups, forks, knives and spoons
|
 | plastic or paper soup cans and boxes of foods
|
 | plastic cooking utensils, pots, mixer, toaster etc.
|
 | play kitchen with table and chairs
|
Transportation:
 | minimum of 12 match box size cars, trucks etc
|
 | tool kit to fix cars, e.g.: screwdriver, wrench, pliers, etc.
|
 | garage
|
 | road signs, play road
|
 | road construction equipment
|
 | other forms of public transportation: airplane, boat, bus, train
|
Empathy and Nurturing of others:
 | minimum of two dolls, one boy and one girl
|
 | minimum of two bottles
|
 | plastic figures of a family whose sex and number of members matches
the child=s family
|
 | plastic figures of helpers in the community: doctor, nurse, fireman,
construction person, police
|
 | doctors kit to help dolls
|
 | tool kit to fix objects owned by dolls
|
 | doll house for plastic family
|
 | blankets and clothes for dolls
|
 | play bath equipment for dolls
|
 | play crib or bed for dolls
|
Fantasy Play:
 | plastic animals from the jungle, zoo, water and farm
|
 | plastic dinosaurs
|
 | Fisher Price or Play School: farm, pirate ship, airport, school,
store etc.
|
Communications:
 | set of two telephones
|
 | chalk or white board on easel
|
Reading:
 | books on a variety of topics which are age appropriate
|
 | word signs around the room
|
 | display of letters of alphabet and numbers 1 to 10 in room
|
 | school desk for dolls or child to go to school
|
Aggression Fantasy:
 | toy soldier set with military transportation (e.g.: tanks,
helicopter, boat, and armored trucks) guns, tents, etc.
|
 | cowboy and Indian set with horses, tents, wagons, guns, bows and
arrows etc
|
Construction Play:
 | wooden block set
|
 | plastic block set
|
 | tool kit for construction e.g.: saw, hammer, screwdriver etc.
|
 | Lincoln log set
|
 | construction equipment: truck, earth mover, etc.
|
Art Play:
 | crayons and paper
|
 | watercolor tempera paints, brush and paper
|
 | finger paints and finger paint paper
|
 | clay or Play Dough for sculpting
|
Outdoor Play:
 | sand box, pails, shovels and other sand containers
|
 | water play table
|
 | gym set with slide, swings and ladder
|
 | rubber football and/or baseballs to throw and catch
|
 | rubber soccer ball and/or basketball to kick
|
Constructive Obstruction Props:
 | soap bubbles to be blown on child while playing with other props to
create need to be flexible and attend to distraction in a coping way
|
 | balloon or light ball to bounce on the drama which is occurring to
create crisis
|
 | blanket to hide the desired objects under
|
 | rubber bands, to fix or bind things together
|
 | tape, to fix or bind things together
|
 | bunch of nerf balls to throw to create obstacle which needs to be
attended to
|
Prop Storage: keep theme related props in
"shoe box" size transparent plastic containers with covers so child can see
inside and select theme to play with. This will make it easier to keep play room orderly
and neat when floor time is ended. Enlist child to assist you in putting props in their
respective containers.
9. Opening the Symbolic Door
 | get engaged at any level
|
 | get intentional - build on any intent, problem solving, corner or
undoing
|
 | heighten affect - at every level, all emotions are equal
|
10. Follow the Child's Lead
 | have symbolic toys available
|
 | recognize and create opportunities
|
 | cue or model symbolic actions
|
 | be meaningful
|
 | make it easy
|
 | persist through - affect cues - affect pacing-wait/speed up
|
 | personalize
|
 | be a player - join in
|
 | expand and keep going
|
 | do not change the subject
|
11. Creating and Expanding Ideas
 | treat object or action as an idea!
|
 | you do not need permission to play
|
 | do not "read" or just describe
|
 | talk to child in role - as actor or with figure
|
 | take on a role and talk through the role
|
 | build on real experiences - bridge to what would happen next
|
 | wait for child to make the next move - then give choices or model
next step
|
 | resist the temptation to take over
|
 | "Appreciate" child's need for control
|
 | try to build bridges between ideas
|
 | give reasons for your or child's actions
|
 | problem solve and assist in the finding of a solution
|
 | make ideas more complex and more elaborate
|
12. CONSTRUCTIVE OBSTRUCTION to Extend Problem Solving
 | The child will be surprised, amused or frustrated when faced with the
changes and obstacles you create for them.
|
 | Approach child with a supportive attitude, sharing surprise, Oh
no what happened?, What's the matter?
|
 | Help child solve the problem, but wait for child to recognize the
problem first and then encourage the process.
|
 | Stretch the problem as long as possible by playing dumb
|
 | Offering wrong solutions so child can check out several alternatives
|
 | Asking questions and opinions about what they want, etc.
|
Remember: goal is not to frustrate child but to
mobilize child's thinking and acting in face of something which matters personally to the
child.
13. Opportunities for Doing
Floor Time with Child
To assist child to solve problems and handle changes identify
opportunities in the child's daily life which present a "stage" for problem
solving and change accepting "dramas"
Brainstorm how you could utilize the following opportunities:
 | all thing you routinely do for child
|
 | all the things child expects or waits for you to do
|
 | all the things child already expects to do for self
|
 | all the things child desires or expects to have or go to
|
 | daily challenges
|
14. Home Based Opportunities for
Floor Time
 | dressing and undressing: giving child
choices about what to wear or not or what to take off first, is following the child's
lead.
|
 | mealtime: chose one meal a time with enough
time - talk may focus around food preparation, different foods being served, which foods
are particularly enjoyable or any topic relating to the child's life.
|
 | car time: engage child in a relaxed
conversation in which child takes the lead, or sing-along for which child chooses songs
|
 | coming and going time: plan to have at
least a little time to get child settled on arrival to a classroom or in switching and
transitioning from one activity to another by reading a short story, visit pet in
classroom or at home, or look at special toy in classroom or at home. Show child support
through your interest and warm clear good-bye if leaving in classroom. On picking child up
from classroom give the child a chance to tell you something important about the day while
you are still in the school setting.
|
 | bath time: Bath toys are wonderful props as
they float, get dunked, and come into contact with each other. The water is a great
opportunity for play. The child will naturally relax in the water.
|
 | book time: Read the book with the child on
your lap or next to you on a chair or bed. As you read, be aware of responses and
questions that you can extend. (If the child is totally absorbed, however, it is best to
continue reading and simply enjoy the sense of shared interest)
|
 | bedtime: Bedtime is often accompanied by a
ritual, but is also a moment to feel close and loving. Children sometimes share important
thoughts and feelings during the last moments before falling asleep. Although you will not
want to rev-up the child up prior to sleeping, you can respond with empathy and
stay close until the child is calm and feels safe enough to sleep.
|
15. Turning Every
Day Activity into Problem Solving for Child
 | chair not close to table, in the child's spot, when meal time arrives
|
 | bottle not open when you are trying to pour juice
|
 | bathtub empty of water when you tell child it is time to take a bath
|
 | shoes hidden from usual resting place
|
 | changing the shelf locations of favorite books, tapes etc.
|
 | putting two socks on same foot
|
 | putting shirt on feet
|
 | give child adult shoes instead of their own
|
 | use rubber band to hold together a spoon and fork when giving child
tool for eating
|
 | being sure cup is upside down when offering child a drink
|
 | put markers in a new container which child has not yet learned to
open
|
 | mix puzzle pieces of two or three puzzles together
|
16. Strategies for
Engagement and Two-way Communication
 | Give child seemingly random actions new meanings by responding to
them as if they were purposeful.
|
 | Use sensory-motor play -- bouncing, tickling, swinging, and so on --
to elicit pleasure.
|
 | Use sensory toys in cause-and-effect ways: hide a toy, then make it magically
reappear; drop a belled toy so that child will hear the jingle; bring a tickle feather
closer, closer, closer until finally you tickle child with it.
|
 | Play infant games, such as peek-a-boo, I'm going to get you,
and patty cake.
|
 | Play verbal Ping Pong with child, responding to every sound
or word the child makes and continue the ping pong match to expand the number of circles
closed.
|
 | Pursue pleasure over other behaviors and do not interrupt any
pleasurable experience.
|
 | Use gestures, tone of voice, and body language to accentuate the
emotion in what you say and do.
|
 | Try to be as accepting of child's anger and protests as you are of
child's more positive emotions.
|
 | Help child deal with anxiety (separation, getting hurt, aggression,
loss, fear, and so on) by using gestures and problem solving.
|
17. Strategies for
Helping Child Build Symbolic World
 | Identify real-life experiences child knows and enjoys and have toys
and props available to play out those experiences
|
 | Respond to child's real desires through pretend actions
|
 | Allow child to discover what is real and what is a toy (e.g., if
child tries to go down a toy slide, encourage child to go on; if child tries to put on
doll's clothes, do not tell it doesn't fit; if child puts foot in pretend pool, ask if is
cold)
|
 | If child is thirsty, offer an empty cup or invite to tea party
|
 | If child is hungry, open cardboard-box refrigerator and offer some
food, pretend to cook, or ask if the child will got to the pretend market with you to get
things.
|
 | If child want to leave, give pretend keys or a toy car
|
 | If child lies down on floor or couch, get a blanket or pillow, turn
off the lights, and sing a lullaby
|
 | Encourage role playing with dress-up props, use puppets - child may
prefer to be the actor before using symbolic figures
|
 | Use specific set of figures/dolls to represent family members and
identify other figures with familiar names
|
 | Give symbolic meaning to objects as you play:
|
 | When child climbs to top of the sofa, pretend child is climbing a
tall mountain
|
 | When child slides down the slide at the playground, pretend the child
is sliding into the ocean and watch out for the fish
|
 | Substitute one object for another when props are needed. Pretend that
the ball is a cake or the spoon is a birthday candle.
|
 | Resume use of gestures for props along with toy objects and
substitutes
|
 | As you play, help child elaborate on personal intentions.
|
 | Ask who is driving the car,
|
 | where the car is going,
|
 | whether child has enough money,
|
 | did child remember the keys to the car,
|
 | why is child going there,
|
 | why not somewhere else, etc.
|
 | Expand as long as you can. (Use all of the Who, What, Where, Why,
When questions, and keep them open ended)
|
 | Make use of breakdowns.
|
 | When a problem crops up during play, create symbolic solutions.
|
 | Get the doctor kit when the doll falls so child can help the hurt
doll, tool kit for broken car etc.
|
 | Acknowledge child's disappointment and encourage empathy.
|
 | Get involved in the drama.
|
 | Be a player and take on a role with your figure.
|
 | Talk directly to the dolls rather than questioning child about what
is happening or narrating
|
 | Both help the child and be your own player.
|
 | Talk as an ally (perhaps whispering), but also have your figure
oppose or challenge child's ideas.
|
 | Insert obstacles into the play. (e.g.: make your bus block the road.
Then speaking as a character, challenge child to respond. If necessary, get increasingly
urgent (whispering to child to encourage to deal with the problem, offer help if needed by
becoming an ally).
|
 | Use symbolic figures child knows and loves, such as Barney, Disney or
Sesame Street characters, to generate symbolic play. Reenact familiar scenes or songs,
create new ideas, and notice characters and themes child may be avoiding or fear.
|
 | Use play to help child understand and master ideas/themes which may
have been frightening. Work on fantasy and reality.
|
 | Let child be the director. Child's play need not be realistic (child
may still be a magical thinker) but encourage logical thinking.
|
 | Focus on process as you play; which character to be, what props are
needed when ideas have changed, what the problem is, when to end the idea, etc. Identify
the beginning, middle and end.
|
 | As you play, match your tone of voice to the situation. Pretend to
cry when character is hurt, cheer loudly when your character is happy, speak in rough or
spooky tones when you are playing the bad guy. Remember, drama, drama, drama
to give child affect cues.
|
 | Reflect on the ideas and feelings in the story both while playing and
later on as you would with other real life experiences
|
 | Discuss child's abstract themes such as good guy/bad guy,
separation/loss, and various emotions such as closeness, fear, jealousy, anger, bossy,
competition, etc.
|
 | Remember symbolic play and conversation is the safe way to practice,
reenact, understand and master the full range of emotional ideas and experiences.
|
18. Strategies to Develop Abstract
Thinking
 | Follow child's lead, build on child's ideas
|
 | Challenge child to create new ideas in pretend play
|
 | Heighten affect and engagement
|
 | Practice and expand rapid back and forth interactions and
conversations (gesturally and verbally)
|
 | Carry on logical conversations all the time (e.g.: while driving, at
meals, during baths etc.) Content does not have to be realistic
|
 | Encourage understanding of fantasy-reality:
|
 | child will use toys as real objects for self as if real (e.g.: puts
feet in play pool, tries to go down toy slide, tries on doll clothes, etc.)
|
 | child may prefer to start with role play and puppets
|
 | child will use toys in pretend fashion
|
 | child will use symbolic solutions for problems and fears
|
 | child will find safety to experiment with themes of aggression and
power
|
 | Recognize fears and avoidance of certain feelings, themes and
characters.
|
 | During play and conversations get beginning, middle and end of story
or idea - identify problem to be solved, motives and feelings - accept all feelings and
encourage empathy
|
 | Select books to read that have themes, motives and problems to solve
- discuss alternative outcomes, feelings
|
 | Encourage abstract thinking:
|
 | ask why questions
|
 | ask for opinions
|
 | compare and contrast different points of view
|
 | reflect on feelings - come back to experiences again later
|
 | don't ask questions you know the answer to
|
 | don't tell child which dimensions to use
|
 | Use visualization - picture yourself
|
 | avoid rote, fragmented, academic questions
|
 | Be creative
|
 | if child puts foot in pretend pool, ask if it's cold.
|
 | if child is thirsty, offer an empty cup or invite child to a tea
party
|
 | if child is hungry, open toy refrigerator and offer some food,
pretend to cook, or ask if child will go to pretend market with you to get things to eat.
|
 | if child want to leave, give pretend keys or a toy car
|
 | if child lies down on the floor or couch, get a blanket or pillow,
turn off the lights, and sing a lullaby.
|
 | Encourage role playing with dress-up props, use puppets - child may
prefer to be the actor before the child uses symbolic figures.
|
 | Use a specific set of figures/dolls to represent family members and
identify other figures with familiar names.
|
 | Get involved in the drama. Be a player and take on a role with your
own figure. Talk directly to the dolls rather than questioning child about what is
happening or narrating.
|
19. Strategies to Develop
Motor Planning Abilities
 | Encourage "undoing"
|
 | move object in line
|
 | cover desired object
|
 | put puzzle piece in wrong place
|
 | bury desired object(s) under other toys and very different objects
|
 | hide desired object from the place where child last put it etc.
|
 | Provide destinations for actions - treat as intentional and symbolic
|
 | child throws - catch it in basket
|
 | child holds figure (little person, animal) -bring over toy slide,
school bus, food (if child does not use spontaneously, ask if the figure would like to...
give choices if needed...ask figure directly...try not to direct)
|
 | child taps - bring over drums (can be plate, plastic toy,
sticks etc)
|
 | child rolls car - bring over garage, crash into it, block with figure
|
 | child reaches for hand - play give me five, variations,
dance
|
 | Create problems to solve - require multiple steps
|
 | put desired objects in boxes to open, untie, remove tape or rubber
band
|
 | pretend object needs to be fixed using tools, tape, rubber bands,
Band-Aids (symbolic)
|
 | create obstacles to child getting around or move or restore to correct
position
|
 | hold book to read upside down and/or backwards
|
 | offer pens/markers which do not work
|
 | sit in child's special place
|
 | get to where the child is running first
|
 | hide object child desires in one hand or the other so that the child
can choose
|
 | when child seeks your hand instead of using own hand, put your hands
on your head or in your pocket
|
 | put socks on child's hands instead of feet
|
 | give child your shoes to put on
|
 | make desired toy/object a moving target (move from place to place)
|
 | Be playful and supportive as you encourage and expand these
interaction
|
|
| Change environment frequently to encourage flexibility, create
problems and expand discussion |
 | move expected objects (change drawer content, change content in
baskets)
|
 | rearrange furniture and create problems (child find chair upside
down, or is told to sit down when chair is across the room)
|
 | hang up pictures from magazines at eye level and change frequently
|
 | Encourage child to initiate/continue action
|
 | Ready, set, Go!
|
 | put toy which child was using back in child's hand. (Oh, you dropped,
forgot)
|
 | provide cues - uh oh, knock, knock, help
|
 | use indirect prompts (call the figures to come, where are you?)
|
 | bring over next step (puppet to eat pretend food, mirror to see the
hat etc.)
|
 | trade objects, positions etc.
|
 | Deal with consequences of actions symbolically
|
 | baby doll fall (is dropped) - Uh oh! He's crying. Are you hurt?
Get a bandage. Go to the doctor. Call an ambulance...
|
 | car crashes - Oh no, it's broken! Can you fix it mechanic?
|
 | Basket is dropped - What a mess! What do we do now?
|
 | Model/mediate sequence of actions needed to solve problem
|
|
 | Plan your idea - discuss what child will need for their idea
|
 | get toys/props child will need
|
 | identify setting and destinations
|
 | while playing identify problems and sequence of solutions
|
 | identify beginning, middle and end
|
 | challenge, reason, negotiate
|
 | Play interactive song-hand games
|
 | Itsy bitsy spider
|
 | one potato two potato
|
 | slap my hand
|
 | sailor went to sea, sea, sea etc.
|
 | Play Treasure Hunt and use maps (use visual and verbal cues)
|
 | Play games
|
 | social playground/party games
|
 | board games (cognitively challenging)
|
 | cooking
|
 | drama
|
 | arts and craft activities
|
 | Encourage athletic activities
|
 | individual sports e.g. tennis, roller skating, shooting baskets, ice
skating etc
|
 | group sports e.g. soccer, baseball, basketball etc
|
 | gymnastics
|
 | Tae Kwon Do
|
20. Strategies to Address
Processing Difficulties
Child's Actions |
Adult's Solutions |
Avoids, moves away |
Persist in your pursuit Treat as
intentional
Provide visual cues
Playfully obstruct
Attract with "magic"
Insist on a response |
Stays stuck, does not know what to do next |
Provide destination Return object of
interest
Use object in some way
Expand, expand
Give new meanings
Use ritualized cues to start ("ready, set, go") |
Uses scripts |
Join in Offer alternative scripts
Change direction of script |
Perseverates |
Ask for turn, join, imitate, help Make
interactive
Ask "how many" more times
Set up "special" time |
Protests |
Act sorry, play dumb, restore, blame figure |
Rejects, refuses |
Provide more things to say "no" to Expand, give other choices or time |
Says something unrelated |
Insist on a response Notice change or
bring closure |
Becomes anxious or fearful |
Reassure Problem solve
Use symbolic solutions |
Acts out, pushes, hits |
Provide affective cue ("Uh, uh, uh"; "No,
no, no") to encourage self-regulation Set limits.
Reward for absence of negative behaviors |
21.
Developmental Stages of Greenspan's Functional Emotional Assessment Scale (FEAS)
 | Regulation and Interest in the World (by 3 months)
|
 | Forming Relationships and Attachments (by 5 months)
|
 | Intentional Two-Way Communication (by 9 months)
|
 | Complex sense of Self I: Behavioral Organization (by 13 months)
|
 | Complex sense of Self II: Behavioral Elaboration (by 18 months)
|
 | Emotional Ideas I: Representational Capacity (by 24 months)
|
 | Emotional Ideas II: Representational Elaboration (by 30 months)
|
 | Emotional Thinking I: (by 36 months)
|
 | Emotional Thinking II: (by 42-48 months)
|
22.
Structural and Thematic Characteristics of Greenspan's FEAS Developmental Stages
Stages of Development |
Organizing Fantasies and Themes |
Regulation and Interest in the World |
Omnipotent control; being overwhelmed; falling apart |
Engagement and Relating |
Isolation; emptiness; inanimate objects; unconditional love |
Intentional Communication |
Part object pleasures or fears; chaotic, fragmented interactions |
Complex sense of self |
Narcissistic self-absorption; grandiosity; suspiciousness;
somatization; global self deprecation |
Emotional Ideas |
Neediness, being taken care of and/or fear of separation and/or
danger |
Emotional Thinking |
Power; being admired; respected; shame; humiliation; loss of love;
injury or harm to self or others |
23.
Greenspan's FEAS Levels of Functioning and Corresponding Floor Time Strategy
Developmental Level |
Child's Skills Needed |
Floor Time Strategy |
Regulation and Interest in the World (by 3 months) |
Sense of protection, care and encouraged engagement in world |
Provide one on one ping ponging and cuddling to set a pattern that
is predictable and comforting |
Forming Relationships and attachment (by 5 months) |
Rich investment in human world; woos and is wooed |
Provide secure relationship which evolves into an attachment that
survives negative feelings |
Intentional Two-Way Communication (by 9 months) |
Reads and responds contingently to range of affective and
behavioral cues |
Provide experiences which help develop capacity to facilitate
empathic reading of the "other" |
Complex Sense of Self: Behavioral Organization & Behavioral Elaboration
(9-18 months) |
Secure availability to others while admiring and supporting greater
behavioral organization, initiative and originality |
Provide experiences which encourage self-observing capacity and
permits integration of affective opposites around dependency, aggression, passivity and
assertiveness. |
Emotional Ideas: Representational
capacity and elaboration
(18-30 months) |
Using evolving, representational (symbolic) capacities across a
wide thematic and affective range |
Provide experiences which work at the use and elaboration of
fantasy and pretend play |
Emotional Thinking: Representation,
Differentiation and Consolidation
(24-48 months) |
Using of representational capacity and reality orientation |
Provide experiences to shift between fantasy and reality and
integrate wide range of affective and thematic issues |
24. READING
LIST and ONLINE RESOURCES on Floor Time
ONLINE RESOURCES:
For more information about Floor Time and other Greenspan Early
Intervention concepts contact:
 | Stanley Greenspan's Homepage:
http://www.stanleygreenspan.com/
|
 | The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders
at http://www.icdl.com or contact them
at: The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental &
Learning Disorders, 4938 Hampden Lane, Suite 800, Bethesda, Maryland
20814, or call 301-656-2667
|
Greenspan's Floor Time Related Books:
THE CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: ENCOURAGING INTELLECTUAL AND
EMOTIONAL GROWTH. Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. and Serena Wieder, Ph.D., Addison
Wesley: (1998, Reading, MA). The most recent, comprehensive, and parent oriented
discussion of the use of floor time with children with special needs.
INFANCY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD - THE PRACTICE OF CLINICAL
ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION WITH EMOTIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES, Stanley I.
Greenspan, M.D., International Universities Press, Inc.(1997, 3rd Printing Madison, WI).
The comprehensive coverage of the whole range of Behavioral, Sensory Spectrum Disorders
which is addressed to clinicians. The FEAS scales used in this program were developed from
material contained in this book.
Other books by Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D.:
THE CHALLENGING CHILD - UNDERSTANDING, RAISING, AND ENJOYING THE
FIVE "DIFFICULT" TYPES OF CHILDREN. Addison Wesley (1995, Reading, MA).
THE CLINICAL INTERVIEW OF THE CHILD. Co-authored with:
Nancy Thorndike Greenspan, American Psychiatric Press, Inc. (1991, Washington).
DEVELOPMENTALLY BASED PSYCHOTHERAPY. International
Universities Press, Inc. (1997, Madison, WI)
FIRST FEELINGS - MILESTONES IN THE EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR
BABY AND CHILD. Co-authored with Nancy Thorndike Greenspan, Penguin Books, (1985,
NY).
THE GROWTH OF THE MIND - AND THE ENDANGERED ORIGINS Of
INTELLIGENCE. Addison Wesley (1997, Reading, MA).
Floor time film with Greenspan:
FLOOR TIME - TUNING IN TO EACH CHILD. Scholastic Inc, NY,
1990. Contact at Toll Free Number: 1.800.325.6149
If you want to get copies of the above material please contact Dr. Stanley
Greenspan through www.stanleygreenspan.com

Coping.org is a Public Service of
James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance M. Messina, Ph.D., 6319 Chauncy Street, Tampa, FL 33647 Email:
jjmess@tampabay.rr.com Phone:
813.631.5176 Fax: 813.631.1119 ©1999-2002 James J.
Messina, Ph.D. & Constance Messina, Ph.D.
|
|
|