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When you get down on the floor and play with a child, you'll be instantly introducing yourself to the work of the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan. He's the guy who introduced "floor time" into the parenting community. He researched the importance of play and, more specifically, the effect on children when they are able to play on the floor engaged with their parent or caregiver.
The idea behind floor time supports play as being child-centered -- parents take cues from their child, not the other way around.
Tragically, Dr. Greenspan, age 68, died last week from complications related to a stroke. The loss is heart-wrenching to those of us who came to depend on him for sensible and practical parenting advice. Dr. Greenspan was a passionate advocate for babies and toddlers and penned best-selling books addressing the emotional, intellectual and physical development of children.
Greenspan eventually became a go-to guru when seeking information about children with special needs and specifically those with ADHD and autism. Dr. Greenspan encouraged parents, therapists, childcare workers and teachers to meet the child where the child is, not expect children to behave, think and act as mini-adults.
This video from Dr. Greenspan's Web site demonstrates how he would give parents suggestions on ways they could offer their child support and encouragement and increase their child's ability to express himself or herself, all by getting down on the floor for about a half an hour.
Dr. Greenspan was the founding president of Zero To Three. You can read ZTT's tribute to Dr. Greenspan on their Web site as well as information regarding The Stanley Greenspan Memorial Scholarship fund. The fund was "established by the Greenspan family to support future leaders in the field of infant mental health and developmental disorders who are currently enrolled or applying to the ICDL Graduate School."
Please join me in getting on the floor and playing with a child in memory and honor of Dr. Stanley Greenspan. This is his legacy, one half-hour at a time.
