Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 18, 2013, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A5 winnipegfreepress. com MANITOBA WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 A 5 HOME DELIVERY 1- 800- 542- 8900 Call 2 0 4 6 9 7 7 1 0 0 * ALL PRICES AND PAYMENTS ARE PLUS FREIGHT AND APPLICABLE TAXES AND FEES. ALL INCENTIVES TO DEALER. PAYMENTS BASED ON 96 MTHS. OAC. SALE ENDS JULY 22nd/ 13. DLR# 0765. OVER 300 NEW VEHICLES TO SELECT FROM 0% FINANCING On select vehicles oac www. Eastern Chrysler. com 1900 MAIN STREET 204- 339- 2011 S SUPER SUMMER S M F v 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVA N 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVA N 2013 DODGE AVENGER SE 2012 RAM 2500 CREW 4X4 2013 DODGE JOURNEY SXT 2013 DODGE DURANGO 4X4 A V E N G E R S $ 14 , 998 * OR $ 86 B/ W CARA $ 18 , 998 * OR $ 107 B/ W * G ND C $ 25 , 498 * OR $ 143 B/ W * CAB 4 $ 50 , 995 * OR $ 299 B/ W * S $ 24 , 998 * OR $ 299 B/ W * RT $ 50 , 995 * OR $ 288 B/ ODGE WB/ W * W * ULTIMATE FA MILYEXPERIENCE ULTIMATE FAMILYEXPERIENCE W 2013 DODGE DART $ 15 , 995 * OR $ 88 B/ W * B E warned: Hitting your child can actually hurt them well into adulthood. University of Manitoba community science Prof. Tracie Afifi has uncovered a link between spanking or hitting children and the increased potential for serious health problems in the coming years. She said harsh physical punishment administered to kids - acts of pushing, grabbing, slapping and hitting - can lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, arthritis and obesity. More than 35,000 people in the United States participated in the research, with adults reporting conditions in the homes where they grew up, and their current health state. Afifi said the higher risk came in at a 1.3 per cent increase over the group that didn't report physical punishment. Afifi reminds people the findings are only increased likelihoods and associations - not every child who is subjected to physical punishment will be susceptible to health problems as a result. She said the findings were based on research showing infants experiencing regular physical punishment register higher hormonal reactions to stress. " That was our theory driving the study," Afifi said Wednesday, " but we wanted to look at things that were less severe, things that many people wouldn't consider physical abuse." So what's the link between hitting your child and the increased potential for health issues? Afifi said the effects of physical punishment have shown to amp up the levels of stress in children to the point where they may experience higher heart rate and higher blood pressure, numerous sleep irregularities, and even be subject to cognitive behavioural issues. Turn those factors into a problem of confidence in the child, and living with the stress over time only increases the chances for health problems. Think of a time you've experienced an increase in stress in your daily life: the solution to help ease that burden bump maybe came through a cigarette, a couple of glasses of wine during nonsocial situations, or even a trip to the local fast- food restaurant or ice cream stand for a quick shot of comfort food. Same thing applies here, Afifi says. " It's not a causal relationship, it's an association," she said. " We did rigorous statistical models - our models were quite strict and stringent - and we still were finding these effects." Not surprisingly, Afifi is not a fan of Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada, the wording that legally allows parents, teachers and caregivers to discipline their children ( older than two, under the age of 13) through " reasonable force" but not with a belt or another makeshift weapon ( blows to the head and face are not allowed either). She points to the growing stacks of literature that favour a non- physical, positive reinforcement model of authority with children. Add the potential negative health concerns found via her research, and she wonders why Canada is still dragging its collective knuckles in the 21st century on the matter. " We recommend that physical punishment not be used on children of any age," Afifi said. " Children still need discipline - physical punishment is not the same as discipline. A lot of people get that confused." adam. wazny@ freepress. mb. caw There's no law against corporal punishment IS it time to fire up the debate on spanking again? The last time the issue flared up was in 2004, when the Supreme Court of Canada voted 6- 3 to uphold Section 43 of the Criminal Code, which gives parents, teachers and primary caregivers the legal right to discipline their children through physical means. Canada's highest court ruled the provision did not infringe on a child's right to security of the person under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Following the 2004 ruling, several private member's bills to ban or alter corporal punishment have been introduced in the House of Commons and Senate, the last coming five years ago. In fact, the 2008 amendment to Section 43 actually never was voted on. It was left floating, as the House never had a chance to give it the thumbs up or down due to an election call. The Canadian Medical Association Journal has also tried to draw attention to Section 43, publishing a scathing editorial on the short- sightedness of the corporal- punishment- for- children law and the need for parents to explore other, more positive methods of discipline with their children. " To have a specific code excusing parents is to suggest that assault by a parent is a normal and accepted part of bringing up children. It is not. While Section 43 stands, it is a constant excuse for parents to cling to an ineffective method of child discipline when better approaches are available," CMAJ editor- in- chief John Fletcher wrote. Currently, 35 countries have banned corporal punishment on children. Most of Europe is on the list, as are countries such as Pakistan, Uruguay and Kenya. It's a list that should have Canada on it, University of Manitoba community science Prof. Tracie Afifi believes. " You look at the list and Canada should be leading this group," she said. " It's surprising that some of these countries would be more forward socially in this regard." - Adam Wazny, with files from The Canadian Press Probing long- term effects of spanking Link to higher risk of health problems: study By Adam Wazny ' We recommend that physical punishment not be used on children of any age' JOIN THE CONVERSATION Should parents be banned from spanking their kids? Go to winnipegfreepress. com and add your comments to the conversation COLE BREILAND / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Prof. Tracie Afifi is against spanking. A_ 05_ Jul- 18- 13_ FP_ 01. indd A5 7/ 17/ 13 11: 07: 11 PM ;