Problem-solving during Floortime Sessions Looking at some of the common challenges parents and therapists encounter while performing floortime

Types Of Problems Avoidance Avoidance Self-stimulatory behaviors Self-stimulatory behaviors Tantrums Tantrums Aggression Aggression Scripting Scripting Illogical or tangential expression Illogical or tangential expression

Avoidance Causes Stress from sensory or emotional inputs Stress from sensory or emotional inputs - Being overwhelmed by a sound, sight, smell, touch, or taste present in the environment - Experiencing a negative emotion, like frustration, from a challenge during an interaction. Seeking out sensory input Seeking out sensory input - Seeking out sensory input in the form of running, jumping, crashing, etc.

Avoidance Solutions Raise affect to entice child more. Raise affect to entice child more. Modify environment to be more calming for a sensitive child. Modify environment to be more calming for a sensitive child. Challenge less during an interaction. Challenge less during an interaction. Provide enjoyable sensory inputs during the interaction. Provide enjoyable sensory inputs during the interaction. Be PLAYFULLY obstructive. Be PLAYFULLY obstructive.

Self-stimulatory behavior Causes Seeking sensory inputs on their own. Seeking sensory inputs on their own. Experiencing stress, emotional or sensory, and trying to calm self. Experiencing stress, emotional or sensory, and trying to calm self. Fatigue Fatigue

Self-stimulatory behavior Solutions Provide similar sensory inputs through an interaction. Provide similar sensory inputs through an interaction. Take the stress or the child out of the environment. (Be cautious and avoid any environments that overly stress) Take the stress or the child out of the environment. (Be cautious and avoid any environments that overly stress) Keep children well rested and in a constant state of regulation. Keep children well rested and in a constant state of regulation.

Tantrums Causes Over-stimulating sensory environment. Over-stimulating sensory environment. Over-challenging emotional environment. Over-challenging emotional environment. Fatigue plus a sensory or emotional trigger. Fatigue plus a sensory or emotional trigger.

Tantrums Solutions Be very soothing and calming, as you would with an infant. Be very soothing and calming, as you would with an infant. Provide proprioceptive sensory input in a slow rhythmic manner, while being calm and soothing. Provide proprioceptive sensory input in a slow rhythmic manner, while being calm and soothing. Take the child into a calmer or more neutral environment. Take the child into a calmer or more neutral environment.

Aggression Causes Overwhelming emotions paired with sensory seeking. (especially proprioceptive inputs) Overwhelming emotions paired with sensory seeking. (especially proprioceptive inputs) -Emotions can be stimulated by challenging too much, fatigue, and lack of comfort and support. Modeling impulsive or aggressive behavior. Modeling impulsive or aggressive behavior.

Aggression Solutions Stay calm, but set firm limits. Stay calm, but set firm limits. Only physically restrain a child when they are harming themselves or others. Only physically restrain a child when they are harming themselves or others. Develop a calmer home environment with parents. ( If necessary parents seek professional help to deal with their aggression) Develop a calmer home environment with parents. ( If necessary parents seek professional help to deal with their aggression)

Scripting Causes Being self-absorbed in own world due to stress in outside environment. Being self-absorbed in own world due to stress in outside environment. Being more comfortable using someone else's ideas to communicate. Being more comfortable using someone else's ideas to communicate. Using memory instead of creativity to express self. Using memory instead of creativity to express self.

Scripting Solutions Calm the child down and help refocus them on the outside world. Calm the child down and help refocus them on the outside world. Join the script and help become more flexible within the script. Join the script and help become more flexible within the script. Take stressors or child out of the environment. Take stressors or child out of the environment.

Illogical or tangential expression Causes Sequencing/attentional difficulties Sequencing/attentional difficulties Over-stimulation/Excitement Over-stimulation/Excitement Over-stimulation/Anxiety Over-stimulation/Anxiety

Illogical or tangential expression Solutions Act confused. Act confused. Ask questions to help with logic and sequencing. Ask questions to help with logic and sequencing. Calm and slow the child down, and ask them how they are feeling (nervous or excited). Calm and slow the child down, and ask them how they are feeling (nervous or excited).

Problem-solving Related to Slow or No Progress Looking at what to do when a child is experiencing slow or no progress within the Functional Emotional Developmental Milestones. Looking at what to do when a child is experiencing slow or no progress within the Functional Emotional Developmental Milestones.

Reasons for Slow or No Progress Their sensory processing systems are severely compromised, contributing to a flatter learning curve. Their sensory processing systems are severely compromised, contributing to a flatter learning curve. The Flootime program is not being carried out to it’s fullest extent, or in the correct manner. The Flootime program is not being carried out to it’s fullest extent, or in the correct manner. There are negative stimulus present in the environment, health issues, or overwhelming or stressful intervention programs There are negative stimulus present in the environment, health issues, or overwhelming or stressful intervention programs

Solutions to Slow or No Progress We can work with specific processing areas, like motor planning and sequencing and auditory processing, to support the ability to process information. We can work with specific processing areas, like motor planning and sequencing and auditory processing, to support the ability to process information. We must work with the family on a consistent basis to make sure the home is a supportive environment. We must work with the family on a consistent basis to make sure the home is a supportive environment. We can limit exposure to over-stimulating environments, monitor health, and prioritize individual programs. We can limit exposure to over-stimulating environments, monitor health, and prioritize individual programs.

The Floortime Center 4827 Rugby Ave Bethesda, MD Phone (301) Website