We don’t know how Heidi Klum finds the time. The German-born model has also made a name for herself as an actress, fashion designer, author, businesswoman and television producer. Oh, and on top of that, she’s mum to four children – two daughters and two sons. Here are her top celebrity parenting tips.
1Parents should be loving
“I had an upbringing that was quite harsh. My dad was very strict and I didn’t want to be like that. For me, it’s more reasoning and explaining when they do something wrong, so they can try to understand. Sometimes it doesn’t sink in immediately, but I’d rather them learn over time than all at once.”
2Her couldn’t-live-without essential as a mother
“A schedule. You have to schedule. Especially when you have four kids. They all have different things they like to do, different friends, different interests. So, to make sure they all get what they individually deserve, you have to make sure they understand the importance of a schedule.”
3The best bit of parenting advice she’s ever received
“To roll with the flow. Our house is full of life, laughter and mayhem. Every dinner time, something spills. Or they’re wearing uniforms for school, and when we have breakfast food gets all over their hands. You can tell them a thousand times not to wipe it on their pants, but sure enough they wipe it on their pants. That’s when you roll with it. My house is not like a museum. You can see that children live there. It’s their house as much as mine.”
4On letting kids dress and style themselves
Heidi’s advice is to let them get on with it. “I have bought them things; it doesn’t work. They want what they want. Sometimes they come down with the most unusual, strange things – Henry, for example, would wear a Lakers’ t-shirt with a tie over it. I don’t like to push my kids into something that I want; I want them to be growing into themselves, instead of me pushing.”
5It’s important to communicate
“We talk every night; we have dinner at 6 o’ clock. We sit around the table every night or breakfast – for me, that sitting around and talking about your day is very important.”
6Kids should show appreciation
“If I go to the children’s hospital, I tell them what I saw there. If they start whining, I tell them this is not something to cry about. I tell them about the children I see at the hospital that can’t go home. I say, ‘It’s Christmas and you’re at home. You have all these presents. And they’re in the hospital and can’t go anywhere.’”
7On keeping them safe
“My kids are not allowed to walk in the street without holding hands. I’m very strict with safety. In business, if something goes wrong, it goes wrong. But you don’t want to mess up with your children – that’s something you can never take back.”
8When you’re tired, sleep
“I don’t have a favourite pick-me-up. A lot of the time I’ll sleep when the kids go to sleep. When they go to bed, a lot of the time I fall asleep with them, or they all come in bed with me. Sometimes I’ll fall asleep and they’re still watching television.”
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