Talking, Playing, and Growing: How We Use DIR® Floortime™ to Boost Speech & Language Skills

Imagine speech therapy that feels less like “work” and more like an adventure—where your child gets to be the hero of their own story, you’re their trusted sidekick, and communication becomes the treasure you find along the way. That’s the magic of DIR® Floortime™ at BeYOUtiful Adventures in Speech.

DIR® Floortime™ isn’t about drilling flashcards or memorizing word lists—it’s about diving into your child’s world, following their lead, and helping them climb the mountain of communication one joyful step at a time.

Let’s pack our explorer’s gear and break down the core components of this incredible approach:

🧭 1. D is for Developmental

Every great journey starts with a map, and in Floortime™, that map is your child’s developmental stage—not their age.We figure out exactly where they are in their communication and emotional growth so we can meet them there.Whether your child is just starting to make sounds or already telling little stories, we tailor each adventure to their unique starting point.

🌍 2. I is for Individual Differences

Think of your child as a world all their own—full of unique textures, sights, sounds, and rhythms.Some kids love spinning wheels, others love building towers, and some can’t resist a good dinosaur roar.We look at:

• How your child processes sights, sounds, and movement

• How their body and brain work together

• How they react to sensory input

  
  

  Understanding these differences helps us create communication-rich play that feels safe, exciting, and just right for them.

🤝 3. R is for Relationship-Based

Every great explorer needs a guide who believes in them.DIR® Floortime™ builds communication through warm, trusting relationships—because kids learn best when they feel connected.We get down on the floor (literally!), enter their world, and join the game on their terms.From there, we gently stretch the play into new directions that spark more words, more interaction, and more smiles.

🎯 The Six Stages of Floortime Adventure

While we follow the child’s lead, we also have a secret mission: to guide them through six functional emotional developmental capacities (FEDCs) that help unlock speech, language, and thinking skills:

1. Self-Regulation & Interest in the World – Feeling calm, safe, and curious

2. Engagement & Relating – Making eye contact, smiling, and sharing joy

3. Two-Way Communication – Turn-taking in play, gestures, and words

4. Complex Communication – Adding emotions, problem-solving, and ideas into play

5. Emotional Ideas – Using pretend play to share feelings and thoughts

6. Emotional Thinking – Connecting ideas, reasoning, and building conversation skills

🗝️ Why This Works for Speech & Language

DIR® Floortime™ turns speech practice into authentic communication moments—not rehearsed lines.Instead of telling your child, “Say ‘ball,’” we make the ball a key part of their pirate treasure hunt, their rocket fuel, or the magic ingredient in their pretend soup.Because when the brain is engaged, excited, and emotionally connected, words start flowing naturally.

🏔️ Our Role in the Adventure

At BeYOUtiful Adventures in Speech, we see ourselves as fellow explorers—always ready to climb, crawl, dance, or roar right alongside your child.We know that every child has their own pace, their own challenges, and their own magical “a-ha” moments.With DIR® Floortime™, we celebrate each victory (big and small) and help kids discover that communication isn’t just possible—it’s fun!

✨ Ready to start the adventure?Whether your child is just beginning to find their voice or looking to take their conversations to the next level, we’re here to make every step of the journey exciting, encouraging, and full of connection. We are excited to help all the children of Cincinnati become better communicators and thinkers through this fun adventure of play!