WonDIRful Play

WonDIRful Play takes a different approach from traditional structured therapies by focusing on building a warm, trusting relationship between the child and therapist. Instead of feeling like a formal “therapy session,” the therapist joins the child in play and becomes a supportive play partner who follows the child’s interests and helps guide learning through connection and engagement.

This relationship-based style often helps children feel more comfortable, motivated, and willing to participate, especially when direct instruction can feel challenging. Learning happens naturally through shared attention, interaction, and meaningful play experiences rather than only through structured drills.

Because every child is unique, this approach allows therapists to meet the child where they are and support communication, flexibility, emotional regulation, and social growth in a more natural and enjoyable way.

The focus is always on connection first—because when a child feels understood and engaged, meaningful learning can follow more naturally.

It has become more common! While some families try DIR/Floortime on its own, it can be done in combination with other therapies, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. Many families enjoy incorporating exercises from DIR/Floortime with other therapies. Many therapists and providers like to include DIR/Floortime’s play and child-led approach into their practices.

DIR/Floortime has some research to support its effectiveness, though this is limited. In a 2019 study, researchers published positive outcomes as a result of DIR/Floortime, including increased joint attention and initiation of activities.

DIR/Floortime is currently considered to be an experimental treatment. As of the 2015 publishing of the National Standards Project on evidence-based treatments, DIR/Floortime was listed under the “unestablished level of evidence” category. While Floortime can benefit some children, more research is needed to establish efficacy. Our expert recommends Affect Autism to learn more about the research behind DIR/Floortime.