Green House P.L.A.Y.

The Green House PLAY Project Home Consulting Program

The Green House PLAY Project Home Consulting Program is designed for children 18 months through 8 years who have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASDs include Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS). Green House PLAY Provides services to children and families in Southern New Hampshire, including the regions around Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Peterborough, and Keene.

The PLAY Project is a practical, home-based, and family-friendly program based on the DIR/Floortime model of Stanley Greenspan, MD, a nationally respected child psychiatrist. Based on the DIR theory, PLAY Project Home Consultants teach parents and other caregivers techniques that are effective, fun, and useful in day-to-day interactions with their child.

The PLAY Project aims to support and educate parents and other caregivers in ways that improve their child’s social skills, play skills, and language. Once parents and other caregivers are trained, children with ASDs can receive a greater level of intervention as PLAY techniques become incorporated into everyday activities to help the child learn and grow.

Click here to learn about a local PLAY Project workshop on May 21st, 2010.

Green House PLAY Home Consultation Typically Includes:

• Family Support
• 3 hours of home visit per month, either one three hour visit or two 1.5 hour visits
• Parent/Caregiver Training on using play-based techniques to teach your child
• Selected videotaping of parent/caregiver and child interactions, monthly written evaluations, and feedback between home visits
• Online communication and learning tools through RelateNow.com
• Assistance with IFSP or IEP goals
• Consultation and collaboration with other Service Providers

The PLAY Project is based on the DIR Theory. . . But What is DIR?

The Green House PLAY Project Home Consulting program is based on the DIR model of Dr. Stanley Greenspan. The DIR (Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based) approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and treating children challenged by ASDs.It focuses on helping children master the building blocks of relating, communicating, and thinking.

• "D" is for Developmental: Understanding where the child is developmentally is critical to designing a treatment program.
• "I" is for Individual-Difference: Each child has a unique way of taking in the world- signs, sounds, touch, etc.-- and responding to it. Taking into account each child's biological differences in sensory processing is essential to designing a treatment program.
• "R" is for Relationship-Based. Building relationships with primary caregivers is a critical element in helping  a child return to a health developmental path.

PLAY Project techniques are based on DIR/Floortime. . . But what is Floortime?

Floortime is the key intervention strategy within the DIR approach. It literally refers to getting down on the floor and playing with your child. While being on the floor is not necessary, the key strategies used in Floortime are to actively:

• Follow your child's lead; and
• Build on your child's natural interests to engage them in play.

The emphasis during Floortime is on enticing your child into the world by giving him a greater degree of pleasure in relating nad interacting with others. Floortime is play, but it is also your child's practice time. Each time you play with your child -- spontaneously, joyfully, following your child's interests and motivations-- you help your child build that link to you and the social world, and in doing so move forward on the journey up the developmental ladder.

For more information visit the Floortime Foundation online at http://floortime.org.

What Parents have to Say about the PLAY Project

“We are very pleased with the results we’ve seen with our son after only three months with the P.L.A.Y. Project. We’ve been able to connect with him in a way that was not possible before. He’s showing great eye contact, attention and has tried speaking more and more. We’re very pleased with his progress thus far and look forward to seeing future results.”
                                                                                                        — Edward&Heather Yest, parents

“It is really helpful to have a consultant who is caring and understanding about our children. . . the P.L.A.Y. Project has been truly inspiring to our family. When you never know if you are doing enough or all the right things, this plan helps us to ensure that we are doing everything we can to help our children. Not only has it helped our son dramatically, it has also helped our family as a whole, our everyday quality of life and all those others who are blessed to have contact with our wonderful son.”
                                                                                                        — Brian&Lorrie Gray, parents

For more information please contact:

Lara Kroodsma, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
PLAY Project Coordinator

Green House Group, PA
250 Commercial St, Suite 3004
Manchester, NH  03101
phone: 603-668-3050 x22
fax:      603-668-8666
email:  lara@greenhouseplay.org