FLOORTIME

Developmentally
Encourage Keep
Mobilize Affect Appropriate Action from
Self-initiation Continuous Flow Sensory-motor to Symbolic

A & C Affect cues  C is initiating  A Observe 1st to  A Uses questions

through:  A follows warm up he/she doesn’t know
 Gesture  A & C opens circle of  A & C Rapid back answers to
 Voice communication and forth  A & C Deepen the
 Movement  C is leading the  A Waits for a plot
 A Pursue the child’s play response  A Attend to sensory
feelings  C actions toward the  A Returns child to profile
 A & C Co-regulated playmate initial idea  A & C Solving
affect  A Maintains child’s  A Regulates problems
 A Widens range of topic attention as needed  A & C Posing
feelings  A Helps child do  A Rhythmic timing to problems
 A & C Reflect on what he/she want to child’s cues  A & C Symbolic use
feelings do  A Stays contingent of toys
 A & C Empathize  A & C Reopens  A Adds symbolic
with child and circle to keep it going layer to sensory play
characters  A Makes mistakes  A & C Sequence
 A Uses aggression  A Follows orders ideas
to sustain  A Playfully obstructs  A & C Causal
engagement and when indicated thinking
modulate affect  A Matches child’s
 A Uses humor language
 A Uses surprise comprehension
 A Treats child’s
behavior as
meaningful
C = Child A = Adult or Playmate Barbara Kalmanson, Ph.D. 2007©