This week is Anti-Bullying Week, and it is a good reminder for us to recognize that bullying still continues today, whether it is physical, verbal, online, or even between adults. But this week reminds us that there are many ways we can help those who have been hurt and use different ways to stop and prevent bullying.

While this week has been established to help kids in school, I believe it is important for all of us to recognize this week because we all have been hurt by bullying in one form or another, and it really won’t stop until thousands take action and stop that kind of hurt. And there are many ways to do this, so I wanted to share a couple.

  • Educate yourself and learn about what bullying looks like today and how it affects people.

The biggest way we can all solve problems is by educating ourselves and learning more about the subject, then sharing. Without learning what bullying is and how it comes about, how can we help prevent it? In addition, bullying today is so different then what it used to be. Even though I graduated high school in 2018, I can guarantee that bully has evolved in different ways in the short amount of time I have been out of the educational system. With that, it is always good to catch up on what is happening.

  • Have conversations with our kids and family members.

With that, it is important to talk with your kids and family members. Ask your children (if you have children) how they are doing and what is going on in their lives. Also, it is important to talk with other family members too. Everyone is prone to hurt someone in one way or another, so it is important for all of us to share how we feel and be honest with others by creating boundaries. Stopbullying.gov has a great page about how to talk about bullying.

  • Provide emotional support.

As stated, we have all either been hurt before or have hurt someone. It is always nice to find a co-worker, friend, or family member to talk to. Share how you feel, your past experiences, and overall, how you can help each other.

  • Spread positivity online and in person.

I know it sounds cliché but hey something as small as a “you look pretty today” or “I appreciate what you do” can go so far. You never know what someone is going through no matter who they are, how old they are, and what their life seems to be.

  • Report harmful words and actions seen online.

The internet these days is so full of hate and it is not helping anyone. When you are online and see any harmful content, don’t be afraid to report it. Cyberbullying and just hate in general is so intense on the internet that it needs to be stopped.

These are just a couple of things you can do to try and help. If you want to learn more about anything on how to prevent bullying, I highly recommend checking out stopbullying.gov. it is such a helpful website for everyone.

11 Places in Rochester Where You Can Buy Winter Coats and Gear

Now that the word "snow" is being teased everywhere by meteorologists, parents are scrambling to find all the winter gear for their kids. Kids grow and usually need at least one new item every year while they keep growing. After the pandemic, there might even be a few adults that had a little "growth spurt" and now their winter gear doesn't fit either. If you are needing to know where to go in Rochester, Minnesota to find coats, boots, and snow pants, use this list to find what you need before the snow starts piling up.

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