Is Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's laidback parenting style working?
The Hollywood couple hit the headlines again as the family talk about their relaxed approach
It’s not easy raising teenagers, especially in the celebrity world. Which is why all eyes are on former Fresh Prince Will Smith and his actress wife Jada when it comes to publicly raising their two children Jaden, 16 and 13-year-old Willow.
The couple’s relaxed parenting efforts have been called into question a few times, most recently last month when Willow shared a snap of herself lying in bed alongside a shirtless 20-year-old actor.
Mum Jada spoke out about the controversy in her interview with The Edit. “Don’t try to pollute something that’s not dirty,” she said simply. “I want my kids to be happy and I want them to be themselves.”
The Collateral actress also told Us Weekly that she doesn’t see herself as a conventional parent and that’s affected how Willow has been raised – and has made her more independent.
“I don’t just sit with Willow and go, hey, this is what mommy thinks. What I do with Willow,” she explained “is give her the opportunity to be empowered by herself first.”
The Smiths are no strangers to sharing their parenting tips with the world. They defended their daughter's decision to shave her head, saying that Willow should understand that she doesn't belong to anyone.
“When you have a little girl, how can you teach her that you’re in control of her body?" Will asked. "She can’t cut my hair, but that’s her hair. She has got to have command of her body.”
In 2013, the couple told Metro that they “don’t do punishment”, either.
“The way that we deal with our kids is, they are responsible for their own lives.” Will admitted. “You can do anything you want as long as you can explain to me why that was the right thing to do for your life.”
How do you feel about Will and Jada’s relaxed parenting style? Let us know on Twitter or in the comments below!
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