# StanleyGreenspan.com — AI-Readable Site Index
# llms.txt — https://llmstxt.org

> Stanley I. Greenspan MD Inc. is the official digital home of Dr. Stanley Greenspan's life's work. Dr. Greenspan was a world-renowned child psychiatrist and the creator of the Greenspan Floortime Approach® and the Greenspan/DIR™ Model — a relationship-based framework for supporting children with autism, developmental delays, and social-emotional challenges.

## About This Site

This site provides:
- Educational content about The Greenspan Floortime Approach® and the Greenspan/DIR™ Model
- A professional course for parents and practitioners (The Parent Course)
- Dr. Greenspan's books and publications (The Floortime Manual™, The Child with Special Needs, etc.)
- Ask Stanley AI — an AI assistant trained on Dr. Greenspan's work
- An All Access Pass membership with all resources bundled

## Key Concepts

- **Greenspan Floortime®**: A relationship-based, child-led therapy approach developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan. Sessions involve getting on the floor and following the child's lead to build emotional and intellectual capacities.
- **Greenspan/DIR™ Model**: DIR stands for Developmental, Individual-difference, Relationship-based. It is the theoretical framework underpinning Greenspan Floortime®.
- **Functional Emotional Developmental Milestones (FEDMs)**: Six core developmental stages every child must master — Shared Attention, Engagement, Two-Way Communication, Shared Social Problem-Solving, Symbolic Communication, and Logical Thinking.
- **Circles of Communication**: The back-and-forth exchanges between caregiver and child that build the neurological foundation for language and connection.
- **Communication vs. Language**: Dr. Greenspan emphasized that communication (social-emotional intent) must be built before language (symbolic words). This is especially critical for children with autism.
- **Individual Differences**: Every child's unique sensory and motor profile must be understood to support them effectively.

## Who Dr. Greenspan Was

Dr. Stanley I. Greenspan (1941–2010) was a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at George Washington University Medical School. He authored over 40 books and developed the DIR/Floortime model, now known as the Greenspan Floortime Approach®. He is widely considered one of the most important figures in child developmental psychiatry of the 20th century.

## Key Pages

- Homepage: https://stanleygreenspan.com
- Blog (free articles): https://stanleygreenspan.com/blog
- Parent Course: https://stanleygreenspan.com/parent-course
- All Access Pass: https://stanleygreenspan.com/all-access-pass
- Ask Stanley AI: https://stanleygreenspan.com/ask-stanley-ai
- The Floortime Manual™: https://stanleygreenspan.com/floortime-manual
- About Dr. Greenspan: https://stanleygreenspan.com/about
- For Parents: https://stanleygreenspan.com/parents
- For Professionals: https://stanleygreenspan.com/professionals

## Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Greenspan Floortime?
A: Greenspan Floortime® is a relationship-based approach developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan for children with autism and other developmental challenges. It involves following the child's lead in play to build emotional connection, communication, and thinking skills — from the bottom up.

Q: Is Greenspan Floortime the same as DIR/Floortime?
A: The Greenspan Floortime Approach® is Dr. Greenspan's original version of the DIR/Floortime model. The Greenspan/DIR™ Model is the theoretical framework. Greenspan Floortime® is the specific implementation as developed and taught by Dr. Greenspan and his team.

Q: How is Greenspan Floortime different from ABA?
A: ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) focuses on modifying specific behaviors through reinforcement. Greenspan Floortime® focuses on building the underlying emotional and developmental capacities that make all learning possible — starting with connection, communication, and thinking. Rather than compliance, it prioritizes genuine development.

Q: What are the 6 developmental milestones in the Greenspan/DIR™ Model?
A: 1) Shared Attention, 2) Engagement, 3) Two-Way Communication, 4) Shared Social Problem-Solving, 5) Symbolic Communication, 6) Logical Thinking and Communication.

Q: Can parents do Floortime at home?
A: Yes. Dr. Greenspan designed Floortime to be practiced by parents, not just therapists. The Parent Course at stanleygreenspan.com teaches parents how to implement the Greenspan Floortime Approach® at home in under 5 hours of video content.

Q: What is Ask Stanley AI?
A: Ask Stanley AI is an artificial intelligence assistant trained on Dr. Stanley Greenspan's books, lectures, and teachings. It provides personalized guidance on applying the Greenspan Floortime Approach® to a specific child's needs, available 24/7 at stanleygreenspan.com.

Q: What is "following the child's lead"?
A: Following the child's lead means entering the child's world — their interests, their pace, their way of engaging — rather than directing or correcting them. It is the cornerstone of Greenspan Floortime® because it builds the emotional connection that makes all learning possible.

Q: What is communication vs. language in child development?
A: Communication is the social-emotional act of sharing intentions through gestures, expressions, and sounds. Language is the symbolic system (words, grammar) used to express those intentions. Dr. Greenspan emphasized that communication must be built before language — especially for children with autism — because the neurological foundation for language is built through back-and-forth social interaction ("circles of communication"), not vocabulary drilling.

## Content Sitemap

- Post sitemap: https://stanleygreenspan.com/post-sitemap.xml
- Full sitemap index: https://stanleygreenspan.com/sitemap_index.xml