Garner: I don’t bow down to fits

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck treat their children like “real kids” when they throw fits.

The pair are parents to nine-year-old Violet, six-year-old Seraphina and three-year-old Samuel.

And despite the fact that they are both Hollywood stars in their own right, the duo make sure their fame doesn’t lead to their children being spoilt.

"We’re so involved," Jennifer told Us Weekly of her and Ben’s parenting approach. “I just took a year and a half off of work and I’ve been home. You treat them like real kids. They have boundaries and they have rules and they throw fits."

While the couple could afford any toy their children could ever desire, they have learned how to say no.

But Jennifer, 42, added sometimes this is easier said than done.

“Yesterday, we were at a bike store getting their bikes serviced and getting new helmets that fit and... my littlest one [Samuel] saw something he wanted,” Jennifer said while at the launch of her new children’s crafts line We Made It. “I had just said, 'We’re not buying anything,' and he threw a fit. The people at the store said to me, 'Please let us just give this to you' because he was so unhappy. And I said, 'I’m sorry that he’s throwing a fit in your store and you’re so sweet to want to give this to him. And thank you for asking me first. But he’s going to have to throw a fit.' I said no. No is no."

Jennifer and Ben live in a neighbourhood with its fair share of famous residents. And while living among celebrities could lead to some spoiling, Jennifer says her Hollywood pals have helped inspire her to be a stronger mother.

“I’m so thrilled to get to raise my kids in the environment that they are in," she said. "I think it’s easy just to imagine that all these kids are spoiled and entitled. Part of what makes me be strong with my kids is the fact that I’m surrounded by other really firm strong moms."