Summer may bring shorter work weeks and longer evenings, but our resident poodle-in-training, Eddie, is still on the clock—learning, leaping, and reminding us that self-regulation never takes a vacation. Named after the prolific inventor Thomas Edison, Eddie’s curiosity crackles like a lightbulb moments before it blazes to life. Born May 10 2024, this sleek black pup (who is indeed turning blue) is part boundless energy, and part budding philosopher, pausing mid-walk to contemplate passing planes, spot darting squirrels, and enjoy the scents in grass.
Play With Purpose
Eddie’s favourite lab partner is our Possibilities Founder and Director, Dr. Doron Almagor, who has mastered the science of “one more throw.” Eddie hides balls in imaginative places, trots back with a grin that says, “Again, please!”, and doesn’t quit until she feels sufficiently amused. Her afternoon ritual is equally original: she scouts for the biggest stick in the park, hauls it proudly to her home, and settles down for a satisfying chew as the day winds down.
These games look like pure fun—and they are—but they’re also impulse-control practice in disguise. By deciding when to sprint and when to gnaw, Eddie is learning that excitement pairs best with recovery, a lesson even humans forget.
Sit, Stay, Breath
Self-regulation skills emerge in small, repeatable moments. Eddie sits for treats when asked and reins in her exuberant greetings when visitors arrive, only to curl up peacefully when “lights out” is announced. Her trainers see glimpses of a future Certified Therapy Dog: determined yet gentle, impressively focused, and remarkably attuned to subtle changes in people around her. Like Edison in his workshop, Eddie experiments, fails, rests, and tries again. Each micro-victory wires her brain for calm choices—the same neurological blueprint children craft when routines provide clear signals about what comes next.
When Summer Routines Melt
For many families, July and August feel like an up-ended toy box: bedtime drifts later, screens sneak into pillows, and healthy snacks get replaced by whatever fits in a beach-bag pocket. Sleep debt climbs and tempers shorten—classic signs that self-regulation systems (in kids and adults) are wobbling. Eddie’s schedule offers a gentle blueprint:
1. Anchor the morning. Eddie greets the day with movement—a quick loop around the block before breakfast. Your family’s “anchor” might be stretching in the living room, watering some plants, or following a five-minute mindfulness app.
2. Insert movement breaks. Eddie’s midday fetch session burns adrenaline and resets focus. A backyard sprinkler run, trampoline bounce, or impromptu dance party can do the same for restless kids.
3. Signal transitions. Eddie’s end-of-walk stick is her cue that adventures are almost done. Build your own “almost done” marker—perhaps a sunset popsicle, a favourite playlist on the drive home, or ten minutes of quiet reading—that nudges bodies and brains toward wind-down mode.
4. Protect sleep. Just as Eddie collapses into deep, undisturbed slumber after her high-octane days, kids need predictable lights-out rituals. Try dimming lights an hour before bedtime, swapping tablets for audiobooks, and keeping wake-up times within an hour of school-year norms.
Need a Coaching Handoff?
Even Thomas Edison needed hundreds of prototypes before a bulb shone steadily—and Eddie still has puppy moments when “sit” sounds optional! If your family’s summer experiments are producing more sparks than light, we can help. Our clinicians translate brain science into bite-sized strategies—visual schedules, reward systems, sensory diets—that fit your unique household rhythms. If you’re interested in Parent Coaching for support with routines or parenting, Child Coaching or Teen Coaching to help boost self-regulation, or other services like Adult ADHD Coaching to promote mental health, we’re here. Give us a call at 1-833-482-5558 or email us at info@possibilitiesclinic.com. We look forward to helping with inventive routines, restorative naps, and creative possibilities.
