The Growing Brain PH

26/03/2026

What actually builds persistence?

We all want children who can keep going when things get hard.

But persistence doesn’t grow from pressure alone.

It grows when a child repeatedly experiences:
difficulty + support + small progress

Kapag ang effort ay laging may kasamang hiya, pressure, or comparison —
children learn to avoid, not persist.

Kapag ang effort ay may kasamang:
guidance
encouragement
manageable steps
and emotional safety
— they slowly build the capacity to stay.

This applies to:
- homework
- sports
- therapy
- music
- social skills
- daily routines

And especially for neurodivergent children who may already be working twice as hard just to keep up.

Confidence isn’t built by making things easy. It’s built by helping children experience that hard things can be worked through—with support.

24/03/2026

🗓 SAVE THE DATE! We’re holding our next onsite DIR 101 training this July 17-18, 2026 in Pampanga.

📌 DIR 101: AN INTRODUCTION TO DIR® AND DIRFLOORTIME®
The DIR 101 is a 12-hour course that reviews the theoretical framework, scientific evidence, and scope of application of the model promoting functional emotional developmental capacities, reflective thinking, and overall mental health for all children and adults, including those with developmental disabilities.

📅 July 17-18, 2026
⏱ 8:30 - 5:00 pm
📍 Location: Clark, Pampanga (Quest Hotel)
🌐 ICDL licensed course

Checkout our upcoming posts for more details on DIR Floortime.
Comment below if we’ll be seeing you there!😊

19/03/2026

Should I let my child quit or push through?

Many parents ask this of themselves:
“Am I being too soft if I let them stop?”
“Am I being too hard if I push them to continue?”

The truth is — there’s no one rule.

Some situations call for rest or stopping.
Others call for adjustment, support, and a little more time.

The goal isn’t to raise children who never quit.
The goal is to raise children who learn how to:
• listen to themselves
• work through difficulty safely
• ask for help
• try again when ready

Sometimes what looks like “quitting” is actually:
fatigue, overwhelm, shame, loss of confidence, or developmental readiness

When we respond with curiosity instead of urgency, we teach children something deeper than persistence — we teach them self-understanding.

And that lasts much longer than any single activity.

18/03/2026

𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀
What are some other green flags?
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
✅ Play-based
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
✅ Follow's the Child's Lead
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
✅ DIR-Trained
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
✅ Values Connection, NOT Compliance
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
✅ Actively Includes Parents
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
✅ Strengths-based
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃
✅ Works with Other Therapists
⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃⁃

12/03/2026

When kids say “I don’t like it anymore”

One of the most misunderstood moments in parenting is when a child suddenly wants to quit something they used to enjoy.

We often assume:
“Wala na siyang interest.”
“Tinamad na.”
“Sayang, magaling pa naman.”

But many times, this happens right when learning becomes harder and progress slows — the phase where confidence and frustration tolerance actually begin to grow.

Children (especially younger ones and neurodivergent learners) are still developing the ability to:
• stay with difficulty
• see long-term payoff
• regulate frustration
• recover from mistakes

So they borrow our calm and confidence first.

Before deciding whether to push or quit, we can pause and get curious:
Is this loss of interest?
Or a hard moment that needs support?

Not every child needs pressure to continue.
But almost every child benefits from feeling supported while something is hard.

That’s what builds real confidence over time.

Save this for the days they say:
“Ayaw ko na.”

08/03/2026

I consider myself blessed and privileged to be in the community of the academe and getting the chance, on an almost daily basis, to teach and learn amongst our medical students — the future of our healthcare system. So when the ASMPH student council approached me to share in this project, I humbly agreed.

Thank you, APMC Student Network NCR! May you all aspire to be physicians for others!💙

08/03/2026

Celebrating the women shaping our future generations. ✨

06/03/2026

ADHD is often misunderstood—reduced to labels, myths, or stereotypes. But the reality is far more complex.

Next Monday at 7PM on CURA, join Dr. Jeanne Dy, a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician, as we explore what ADHD really looks like, why it’s often overlooked, and how better understanding can support children and families.

Let’s unpack ADHD beyond the stereotypes. 🧠

📻 Tune in to

06/03/2026

Not all stress is created equal. ✨
✅ Good stress (positive stress) = short-term, manageable, and often beneficial.
❌ Bad stress (toxic stress) = prolonged and overwhelming, without support.

🌱 With your presence and reassurance, small challenges help your child grow stronger. Without support, stress can become harmful.

💬 Share this with another parent who needs the reminder that being there matters more than fixing everything.

References:
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2015). Toxic stress. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/toxic-stress/
Franke, H. A. (2014). Toxic stress: Effects, prevention and treatment. Children, 1(3), 390–402. https://doi.org/10.3390/children1030390
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/ACEs-Adverse-Childhood-Experiences.aspx

06/03/2026

🧡🧡🧡

DIR invites us to look deeper, beyond words and behaviors. It’s a framework for understanding relationships, communication, and human development.

For clinicians, educators, and parents alike, it offers a powerful lens where every interaction becomes an opportunity for connection and growth.

02/03/2026