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The parenting style you use makes a big difference in how your children turn out, according to research. Celebrities also have very different approaches to how they bring up their kids. For example, Madonna has been described as "controlling", while Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are reportedly "lenient". Despite not all celebrities having the best skills, there are some who are more than happy to share their parenting successes with the public. So just how do some of the world's most famous faces deal with the trickiest parenting problems?
Happy mealtimes
Mealtimes are a common cause of tantrums and disagreements among families. But Michelle Obama says the best thing you can do is to sit down as a family and eat together. She says this is the time to connect, talk, and enjoy quality time together. Actress Jessica Alba stresses that it's important for routines to be introduced and followed at mealtimes. Things such as eating at the same time and eating at the table are good examples of this. Actress and cookbook writer Tia Mowry recommends a different approach. She says that she makes mealtimes fun and appealing by using stencils to make food into shapes such as butterflies and dinosaurs.
A good sleep routine
Parents experience poor sleep for up to 6 years after having children, according to one study. But multiple famous faces have revealed their tricks to a better night's sleep. Hillary Duff says enlisting the help of a baby care specialist is crucial. Her 3-month old daughter refused to sleep anywhere but on her parents until she called in expert help. Meanwhile, Tori Spelling swears by sleep training. Once her and her partner started sleep training their son Beau, the tot slept in his own room and in his own crib. Cribs are ideal for younger children like Beau who was 10 months at the time of sleep training. However, an older child will often need to be moved into a bigger bed before they sleep better. Further sleep training may be needed at this age to ensure your child sleeps well and comfortably in their new bed. You can start with them having naps in their new bed and creating a strict bedtime and wake-up routine.
Encouraging cooperation
Active listening is crucial if you want your child to cooperate with you. Prince William is regularly pictured squatting down to Prince George's level to listen and talk to him. He was even publicly told off by the Queen for doing it. But this is a great tip that more parents should follow. Actress Debra Messing takes a much lighter approach in gaining her kids' attention; she breaks into song. She says songs from Broadway musicals are a good way to handle temper tantrums. But it's simply unconditional love kids need, states Jack Nicholson. He says he uses his skills to get his kids to open up and then helps them from there.
You can see from this that every celebrity parents in their own unique way. There is no one size fits all when it comes to bringing up a child and all you can do is try different things until you find the one that's right for you and your child.
