The DIR/Floortime approach seems to ask so much of me as a parent – how do I know if I can do it?

It does ask a lot.  But most parents are able to provide the essentials of what’s required.  There’s no “perfect” way to relate and communicate with a child to help him master the fundamentals of relating, communicating and thinking.  Each parent and child will negotiate their own version. The key is to persist in your efforts to find joy in engaging and interacting with your child. Persistence, flexibility, curiosity and a high tolerance for learning by doing are the key positive characteristics.  The only way to go wrong is to become discouraged and give up.  If you are feeling discouraged, and therefore doing less Floortime, or trying to have only others do it, try to get some support from family members or friends.  Seeing the gleam in your child’s eyes, watching her begin to climb the developmental ladder – these rewards make all the hard work well worth it, and will inspire you to persist in your efforts.  Most parents of children with special needs are already doing heroic things to help their children.  The DIR/Floortime approach recognizes how vital you, the parent, are in helping your child connect to the world around him.