Discussion: “You always want to be following the child’s lead during Floortime and throughout the day,” says Dr. Greenspan. It’s important to remember to “never say no to a child with autism unless they are in danger; otherwise, we block the interaction, and that is where the affect is.”

You don’t want to prevent the child with autism from telling you what he or she wants to do, because that is where the motivation is. If the child wants to do something silly and outlandish, you should encourage it.

“We want to play around what the child is interested in, and that will be the best motivator.”

Learn more about Dr. Stanley Greenspan and the Greenspan Floortime approach. If you are new, we have a background and introduction to Greenspan Floortime including how it helps special needs children. We also have Greenspan Floortime training courses at Floortime U. specifically designed for parents and professionals including the Floortime Manual.