Westside Messenger - April 23rd, 2023
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
PAGE 8 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - <strong>April</strong> 23, <strong>2023</strong><br />
www.columbusmessenger.com<br />
Columbus author publishes children’s book to prevent bullying<br />
By Sarah Slayman<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Paula Neal is a Columbus based author focusing on teaching<br />
clinical strategies to prevent early childhood bullying through<br />
story.<br />
Her first book, “I’m Gonna Have A Good Day!” was released in<br />
June of 2019, with her sequel “Breath, Gabby, Breath!” to be<br />
released next month.<br />
Neal graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree<br />
in early childhood education, and has used her studies for 25 years<br />
through roles in preschool administration.<br />
At her workplaces, she noted that bullying began at preschool<br />
age. She began to watch how the treatment certain kids were<br />
receiving were deeply affecting them and deserved far more attention<br />
than a simple slap on the wrist.<br />
She began asking questions about what made the child say<br />
what they did and gave room for the other child to speak about<br />
how it made them feel. She watched the frequency of bullying<br />
begin to decrease as an effect. Her staff then received professional<br />
training by Dr. Becky Bailey, who focuses on conscious discipline<br />
to aid social and emotional development. This tactic essentially<br />
uses technique to help calm the child and bring them to a level<br />
space prior to instilling any sort of discipline.<br />
“You have to have strategies for children and get to the root of<br />
what’s bothering them,” said Neal, adding that, though prepping<br />
for kindergarten is priority, the social and emotional development<br />
of these children is more critical.<br />
Neal responded to this newfound issue by authoring her first<br />
book, “I’m Gonna Have A Good Day”. The story follows a young<br />
girl named Gabby who relentlessly aims to have a good day, but<br />
rather falls into spells of rage and disrespect, and experiences no<br />
technique other than time out. Her disappointment in her inability<br />
to change and have a good day continues. This book has no real<br />
conclusion, but is rather used as a prompt for conversations about<br />
her behavior with kids, and leads to her sequel.<br />
Neal’s second book, “Breath Gabby Breath,” tells of Bailey’s<br />
training by showing the effectiveness of conscious discipline, particularly<br />
breathwork. It shows the gradient of Gabby’s ability to<br />
self regulate with help, and her peer’s ability to show their former<br />
bully compassion, offer friendship, and support her newfound<br />
calming technique. The sequel’s conclusion also communicates<br />
that, considering Gabby’s struggle to implement these strategies,<br />
though she didn't necessarily have a good day, it was a much better<br />
day, and that was more than enough.<br />
Neal believes that, to eliminate the repercussions that kids<br />
experience in middle or high school, we need to respond now at the<br />
birth of these destructive habits.<br />
Neal’s background ranges from low-income neighborhoods to<br />
elite private schools, showing that it is an issue unrelated to any<br />
socioeconomic status and all children can benefit from guidance in<br />
social and emotional development.<br />
It’s hard to acknowledge that toddlers are capable of bullying,<br />
but it’s even harder to help them recover from all the damage done<br />
later in life by allowing that behavior at such a formative age.<br />
Children are initially more aware of these dynamics than one<br />
would think, and are capable of developing compassion and strategies<br />
to remedy the issue.<br />
A young student demonstrated this at one of Neal’s local readings<br />
by responding to “I’m Gonna Have A Good Day” by saying, “I<br />
would become her friend and ask her what was going on.”<br />
Kids are absorbent and willing, but just need to be equipped<br />
with the tools.<br />
Neal’s books are available through her website,<br />
Paulajohnsonneal.com, as well as most all Columbus Metropolitan<br />
Libraries. She is available for readings at local schools.<br />
<strong>Messenger</strong> photo by Sarah Slayman<br />
Paula Neal is a Columbus based author<br />
focusing on teaching clinical strategies<br />
to prevent early childhood bullying<br />
through story.<br />
<br />
Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) is over for<br />
<br />
- will I have to pay a penalty if I keep working after I turn 65, and decide to keep my<br />
group plan?<br />
- are there any 5 Star Medicare rated plans in my county, that I can enroll into<br />
throughout the year?<br />
-<br />
review more than 2 or 3 plan options.<br />
- I need help in paying my Rx copays, any assistance available?<br />
Ralph Curcio Call today 614-603-0852<br />
Medicare Agent Ohio Lic. # 1466836<br />
-$0 fee or $0 Consultation cost<br />
-Be confident in your plan selection, keep your doctors, and find the lowest<br />
copays for your medications.<br />
<br />
limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or<br />
1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of
Change language