Jennifer Garner admits that she bribes her kids, don’t we all?


These are just some cute photos of Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck and their kids out yesterday. Jen went out grocery shopping with Seraphina and Samuel earlier in the day, and then the whole family was spotted out later at a park in Brentwood. It looks like she changed one year-old Samuel into some sweats for their outing to the playground. That knit cap he’s wearing there is so cute, I wonder if one of his grandmothers made it for him. Also, Ben clipped down his beard somewhat and is back to his original hotness.

Check out the adorable St. Patrick’s day outfits that the kids are sporting. Look at little Samuel noshing on that bagel! Garner is so chic and casual here in her green skinny jeans, white sweater and green and white striped scarf. That’s a great outfit and looks effortless yet well put together. She can look gorgeous and casual when she puts some thought into it. Love me some scarves.

Garner has a partnership/sponsorship deal with Neutrogena, I’ve seen her ads for their skincare quite a few times. As part of her promotional duties, she spoke to People Magazine about making sure her kids wear sunblock. She also admitted to bribing them with M&Ms when necessary.

“Of course it’s a struggle!” the actress, 40, tells PEOPLE Wednesday at the Neutrogena Sun Summit. “The kids do not like getting sunscreen put on, especially at at a certain age, at least not mine. If you have kids out there who like sunscreen, hallelujah!”

Garner, who admits she luckily missed out on the “major baking-in-the-sun years” by mostly staying inside when she was younger, wants to ensure that her children with husband Ben Affleck — Violet, 7, Seraphina, 4, and Samuel, 1 — also avoid future skin damage by educating them about the dangers.

“We talk about skin health, and they know why they have to wear sunscreen,” she says. “If someone forgets, they’ll say ‘Hey, did you forget to put sunscreen on me?’”

She also praises Neutrogena’s kid-friendly SPF application options for making things a little easier at home: “I give them a stick that they can rub on their faces. Or they can do a spray if they want it fast. I’ve used everything.”

And Garner admits she’s not above rewarding her kids for remembering their sunscreen.

“I know it’s horrible — and I’m admitting to bribery — but I’ve given them an M&M [for putting] sunscreen on before,” Garner reveals. “I’ve [also] done a sticker chart. I’ll do whatever it takes — it has to be a non-negotiable part of life.”

[From People]

My son is pretty good about letting me put on sunblock, but I understand the bribing thing. I’ve totally done it. (I don’t do it all the time, but I’m not going to act like I never do!) I’m sure there are parenting experts who would say that it’s wrong and harmful and the lesson is lost or something, but sometimes you just have to get the job done.

This reminds me of an episode of “Parenthood” where Julia (Erika Christensen) asks her sister-in-law, Kristina (Monica Potter), for parenting advice after she adopted a 10 year-old boy and can’t get him to do his homework. Kristina states very bluntly that she bribes her own son with Skittles and explains why there’s no shame in it. I get it, I really do.

I just made the mistake of googling “should you bribe your kids” and at first it made me feel like a terrible mom, but then I learned some strategies to be a more effective briber. I mean parent.

Back to the photos, I love this one so much!

Also Violet is playing basketball, that’s cool. These kids are little stars.

photo credit: FameFlynet

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81 Responses to “Jennifer Garner admits that she bribes her kids, don’t we all?”

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  1. tracking says:

    Ha ha, looking forward to checking out the strategies for becoming a more effective briber/parent!

    • Nanz says:

      Me too! We swore we wouldn’t use candy to bribe our 3yo to use the potty. Now at 3 1/2, he STILL refuses to go (most of the time). Thanks for the link, CB!

      • Belle says:

        Okay, I’ll admit it… I bribed my youngest daughter with m&m’s for potty training, quite successfully too! Really, it was only for a very short time, then we were able to switch to tons of praise and cheering instead! 😉

        Afflecks looks super cute here and Ben is hot!

      • Samsuzzanne says:

        My mom bribed me with M&M’s for potty training, I turned out totally fine, and now it’s just a family joke. My husband will even jokingly ask if he needs to get the M&M’s when he’s really wanting me to do something I’m procrastinating on. Hey, whatever works, & M&M’s are awesome.

  2. Carolin says:

    They look like a happy family. My daughter has the same sneakers as Violet(pink with green stars). 😉

  3. berry says:

    I always think their little boy looks the same as Jessica Simpsons kid.

  4. Esmom says:

    They are such a cute family. You can tell that Jen avoided the sun, her skin is gorgeous.

    My kids hate sunscreen, too, and they are teenagers now! The spray stuff was invented during their childhoods, which helped. I don’t like it because it’s expensive and wasteful but I guess it works. So actually the spray sunscreen is a bribe of sorts in itself since I’d rather use the cream.

    As for other bribery, I used it occasionally. Like when my oldest refused to leave the park when it was time to go home (usually when my youngest would be a wreck and ready for his nap) and I’d give him a Starburst and then he’s come willingly. Like you said sometimes you need to get the job done.

    I never felt good about moments like that but talked to a therapist who made me feel less guilty. She was right that we were able to eventually drop the bribery tactics. And my son didn’t grow into a kid who demands a treat for everything he does, lol!

    • Emily says:

      I have never been able to leave the park without bribing. We’d have to live there if it weren’t for bribes.

  5. brin says:

    I love the Affleck family…that picture of Serafina and Samuel is adorable!

  6. Ranunculus says:

    Oh, now I get it. Garner is a spokesperson for sunscreen now. First it was for Affleck’s Oscar campaign, now the staged photo ops are for her endorsement contract. That’s why they are still being papped every damn day. She better put sunscreen on the kids faces because those poor suckers have to pose 24/7 now.

    • Effy says:

      Whao! what’s biting you?

    • Lyn says:

      I agree with you; I can’t believe how completely they’ve given their kids’ privacy away.

    • Jen Ash says:

      She has been a spokesperson for them for six years, nothing at all new about it.

    • Belle says:

      Someone pee in your Cheerios? Jennifer has been with Neutrogena for quite a while… and she spoke at their ‘sun summit’ last week. That is where her quotes are taken from. You think the photos are staged because she talked about sunscreen last week? Well.. okay! Be careful not to strain something, reaching so far. 😉

    • megsie says:

      That’s a silly, desperate argument. You can’t really believe it, can you?

    • Su says:

      She has been famewhoring these poor kids for years now its saint pats lets all wear green guess ben didnt get that memo her dimple parade staged photo ops are so obvious.

    • karmasabiatch! says:

      Ranunculas, whaaat??

      Serious hate there, what is your damage? Ridiculous statement about sunscreen, don’t understand. Love JennG. My only question is, how can she continue w/ the walking, talking, cheating, monumental ego that is her hubby Ben Affleck?

      • Ranunculus says:

        If my “damage” is not buying cheap PR tactics from pimping celeb mums, I can live with that!

        Affleck and the kids are her career.

  7. T.Fanty says:

    You know, there is a world of difference between what you *should* do as a parent and what you have to do in able to get out of the house. There’s nothing wrong with the occasional bribe. I wouldn’t get anything done if I had to do it according to the rules of the mummy police.

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      I’m not a mother but just reading about the “bribes”-seemed like a normal thing to me? I honestly don’t see why giving a kid an M&M for wearing sunblock is a big deal.

      • T.Fanty says:

        It only really becomes a problem when the kids figure if out. There is nothing so undignified as realizing that you have been played by a three year old.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        Ha ha..Ok, I could see how that could be a problem 😉

      • MorticiansDoItDeader says:

        I tried the m&m’s for going potty and my son would have to go to the bathroom every 2 minutes to let out a small squirt for his m&m. So I cut out the candy. When he was truly ready, praise and big boy underwear were enough for him. Most kids don’t like the feeling of wet underwear, so they learn quickly that they better go in the potty. I’m a a firm believer in rewarding good behavior and revoking privileges for bad behavior. My 4 1/2 year old gets $1 a day for good behavior. If he wants a toy he has to save, and the better he is the faster he earns the money for his toy. If he “mouths off” and doesn’t do lessons with me, he gets his DS taken away. He also has to “earn” time to play the DS (by reviewing states, capitols etc). My son is 4 1/2 and it’s worked thus far. It’s a matter of knowing their currency and using it to your advantage to modify their behavior in the long run. I think m&m’s work for short term behavior modification, but what happens when the bag is empty?

      • Belle says:

        @ Kitten…It’s not a big deal, unless you are doing it all of the time. If a child is demanding a ‘reward’ to do something, then that’s a pretty good sign that the jig is up 😉

        @MorticiansDoItDeader, not sure what happens when the bag is empty…. we never got that far. It only took 5 or 6 trips to the potty and an m&m, along with plenty of cheering each time before my daughter was excited enough that she didn’t even notice we weren’t giving an m&m. Maybe the horns and singing distracted her… LOL I can see how it wouldn’t work for every child though. My oldest daughter was pretty easy to potty train (no bribery necessary…lol), so I was hesitant to do the m&m thing with my 2nd, but it worked out okay for us. 🙂

  8. Cinnamon says:

    Jen’s kids are soo cute!

    my parents gave me $25 for every A and 10$ for every B and each C meant a week grounded when I received my report card. That was $175 each quarter in high school if i received straight As. So yeah…definitely worked because while I never received straight As i did end up with money and to a high school girl mall money is always amazing. Bribing works and it was all for my benefit so i would get into a good college.

    • Mr.Smurf says:

      I guess I’m the odd one out; for my grades it was either you get a’s, b’s, or c’s, or you were grounded. My mom’s not big into rewarding a kid/teenager for what they should be doing. I don’t know. I knew a few kids who got paid for their grades, but other than that, a lot of kids at my school (at all ages) have parents who don’t care what they do in school. Of course, these are the kids that are generally smart alecks and disrespectful to adults, so I guess we know where that came from.

      Generally my mom would have us do extra chores, on top of the ones we had to do, for extra money to buy a toy. Which I would say worked, because I don’t go asking my parents for every little thing that I want. If I want something, generally I figure out a way to pay for it myself, even if my mom sometimes would help me buy it, since I’m the good one in the house. 🙂

    • juls says:

      Its not bribing if you are teaching your kids that they are “earning” their reward, like an allowance. P.s. you dont have to bribe boys with candy to potty train. Just throw a few Cheerios in the toilet and tell them to aim at them. It makes it a game. What little boys don’t love games?

  9. Maya says:

    Oh my god, that picture of Seraphina holding her little brother is making me coo at my computer screen. They’re so chubby and adorable!

  10. Miss M says:

    In my humble opinion, the sticker chart works wonders if you use it to teach them to do their chores.

    ps: I love Sera holding baby Sam, :). Sera is definitely my fave. Should I be ashamed?

  11. serena says:

    It’s Violet who’s playing basketball not Seraphina.
    Anyway I can’t stop looking at Samuel, he’s too precious.

  12. Samigirl says:

    If I had a dollar for every time I’ve bribed my 5 year old, I’d be a wealthy woman. He’s well behaved but even the best kids have their moments.

  13. yeahright says:

    I bribe my kids all the time. Like right now. Here’s Barney if you let mommy have ten minutes of peace and quiet to drink a cup of tea and read her morning smut.

    • T.Fanty says:

      Oh my god. You are my hero. I just lock my kids in the closet with the glowing statue of Jesus when I’m on Celebitchy. That’s fine, right?

      • Hakura says:

        Of course! They get their private time w/Jesus, & you get your private time with Goop, Leann, & the Kardashians.

        Everybody wins!

  14. CC says:

    I was reverse-bribed, and bribed even. Reverse-bribed when I got my computer keyboard taken away (computer wouldn’t function without one) an bribed (or negotiated) when I got something for doing something really specific. I behaved, I got my mom to make my fave desserts, etc. No big, it’s rewarding….effort. Allowances also do that.

  15. shaniqua nunyadambidness says:

    That little boy looks like Matt Damon. Just sayin. 🙂

    • lulu1 says:

      OMG I thought exactly the same thing. He really, really does. Maybe it’s because Matt Damon has a baby face?
      And Seraphina looks so like her Dad, so in that photo it’s like a little Ben Affleck holding a baby Matt Damon.

      Hmmm.

    • Kizzy says:

      Yes! It’s uncanny! That kid looks all Matt and Jen and none of Ben. But… maybe it’s osmosis – they all hang out together – or used to I guess. There’s a post here about a rumor that Jen and Matt’s wife don’t get along. Now I feel bad I said that. If it isn’t true I’d hate to contribute to the negativity. But it’s only what I see. Maybe he will grow up to look more like Ben.

    • Dakota says:

      Every site i go on, multiple people say this. I personally think he looks mostly like Jen with Ben’s chin. If Sera wasn’t Ben’s mini me id maybe question the paternity of their children but I just think Jen has very strong genes and 2 of the 3 kids came out looking just like her.

    • RHONYC says:

      W-R-O-N-G.

      3 words:

      PHILLIP.
      SEYMOUR.
      HOFFMAN.

      DNA test in 5,4,3,2…. 😆

    • Hakura says:

      Perhaps Matt paid Jen a visit when Ben was off shooting a movie somewhere? xD J/K of course, but just sayin’ >=3 Would certainly give Matt’s wife a reason to dislike Jen *wiggles eyebrows* xD

    • Belle says:

      Someone recently posted a picture of Ben when he was a baby… can’t recall where it was, but Samuel looked a lot like Baby-Ben.

  16. Gemini08 says:

    They’re such a cute family and Samuel is so adorable I just want to nibble on him!

  17. MinnFinn says:

    Not bribe – think Pavlov — positive reinforcement.

  18. Dakota says:

    Sam is one BIG baby boy!! Look how fat his feet are..it’s like they had to squeeze his feet inside them just to get them on LOL.

  19. Jen Ash says:

    Can I just say one thing? People on here ripped Ben for his Oscar campaign and said he’d become an absent husband and father afterwards. That hasn’t been the case at all and that was almost a month ago. He’s been papped out been the kids and Jen just as much as before. Literally the only thing that’s changed it he stopped getting all dressed up and wears jeans every day now.

  20. Tar Heel Gal says:

    OMGosh, Violet seems to be wearing a UNC Tar Heels uni!!!! If that is the case, could not admire/love Ms. Garner any more than I already do!! GO HEELS! Such a cute family!

  21. Katie says:

    I love how raggedy the kids look. And I mean that as a compliment! When I look back at pictures of me at that age, I was having the time of my life, looking all messy and raggedy as shit, clothes not always matching, hair falling out of a ponytail. Sure I had to get dressed up every now and then, and my mom certainly didn’t appreciate messy hair, but I had fun and those kids certainly look like they do. These kids are straight out of the 80s and make me nostalgic.

  22. Itsa Reallyme says:

    We all say we’ll never be THOSE parents. Then you have kids and suddenly you see the genius of it. lol
    Cute kids.

  23. Hakura says:

    Gotta love those celeb-parents that actually let their kids be kids. While I do understand it’s MUCH harder to do, outings like this are so necessary. I’m not a Jen or Ben fan, but they do look like very good parents =3

  24. Jayna says:

    I want to steal that little baby. He’s so adorable.

  25. Larissa says:

    Of course we do and there is nothing wrong with that, not in my book!

  26. I Choose Me says:

    Truly adorable kids. That picture of Seraphina and Samuel is making my ovaries twinge.

  27. KellyinSeattle says:

    I think Samuel has Jennifer’s lips; very cute. I love how they wear regular play clothes. I think Violet is the one with mom’s dimples…cute family ! The kids all look healthy and happy. Love Jen’s cute green outfit, too.

  28. Katie says:

    If anyone other than Jennifer Garner (or Reese Witherspoon) admitted that they bribe their kids with sugar to do something, all the mommies would be up in arms. The carte blanche you people have given her is amazing.

    • Belle says:

      Why would all of the moms be up in arms when so many admit to bribing from time to time as well? It’s not like JG admitted to chaining her kids in the basement or something. 😉

    • lisa2 says:

      Katie are very correct. I’m not going to pull the thread to prove the point. I just love reading how different the take is depending on the celebrity.

      It is a little tickle I get at how people change their minds and take.

  29. Elizabeth says:

    How can it be a “non-negotiable part of life” if they get an M&M for putting it on?

    Also, she looks ridiculous. Why do Americans celebrate St Patrick’s Day more than the Irish do?

  30. Jennifer12 says:

    I like how she lets her kids pick their own clothes. She seems like a really good parent.

  31. r says:

    Matt Damon’s only bloy

  32. Sway says:

    Her little boy looks just like her – except for the chin 🙂

  33. Mara says:

    Such nice looking family .