DIR for Picky Eaters: Gentle Play-Based Strategies to Reduce Mealtime Stress

Picky eater autism, a young female toddler frustrated while lifting a spoon from a cereal bowl.

Key Points: Mealtimes can feel like a battlefield when your child is a picky eater. For families managing picky eater autism, this challenge can feel even bigger. Children on the autism spectrum often have heightened sensory sensitivities, making certain textures, flavors, or smells overwhelming. The DIR model, Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based, offers a gentle, play-focused approach […]

Preparing Your Child for School Using DIR/Floortime: Focus, Social Readiness & Emotional Regulation

School readiness autism, a young girl engaged in floor play in a room with a dark curtain backdrop.

Key Points: Getting ready for school is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a complex journey for families navigating developmental differences. For children with school readiness autism needs, preparing them for the classroom requires strategies that balance skill-building with emotional support. DIR/Floortime offers a relationship-based, playful approach that fosters focus, social readiness, and […]

How Movement-Based Play Supports Learning and Development in Children

A row of children on a green background raise their arms to the left during a movement play activity.

Key Points: Children are born to move. Their brains are wired to learn through playful motion. Movement is far more than “just playtime.” It is how young minds explore, experiment, and build the foundation for all future learning. This is movement-based learning: a method that blends physical activity with thinking, social skills, and creativity. Offering […]