Drew Barrymore’s Parenting Lessons: How To Raise Kind And Responsible Kids

Drew Barrymore has grown up in the public eye, but when it comes to raising her daughters, she’s refreshingly down-to-earth. She believes a messy room often reflects a messy mind, that kindness matters more than appearances, and self-care is essential for every parent. Her wisdom is practical, relatable, and inspiring.

Here are the key lessons Drew lives by — with step-by-step how-to suggestions for parents with toddlers, tweens, and teens.

1. A Tidy Space Helps Create a Tidy Mind

How to Motivate Kids by Age

• Toddlers (2–4 years old)

  • Make cleanup a game: sing a “clean-up song” or set a short timer and race.

  • Offer choices: “Do you want to put the blocks in the bin or the cars in the box?”

  • Praise effort more than results: “You put all the pieces away! Great job!”

• Elementary (5–10 years old)

  • Use simple checklists: hang a chart with tasks like “make bed,” “put clothes in hamper.”

  • Reward with connection, not stuff: extra story time, choosing a family game.

  • Set clear expectations: “Before we go outside, toys need to go back.”

• Tweens (11–13 years old)

  • Tie privileges to responsibilities: “Wi-Fi comes after your room is picked up.”

  • Involve them in decisions: let them organize their space their way.

  • Highlight benefits: “When your desk is clear, you’ll finish homework faster.”

• Teens (14–18 years old)

  • Connect clean-up to independence: “Keeping your space in order is practice for college.”

  • Negotiate standards: agree on what counts as “clean enough.”

  • Respect autonomy: give them responsibility for their own room, but insist on shared spaces being tidy.

2. Model Kindness and Responsibility

Drew reminds her daughters that treating people poorly will eventually make you feel bad.

How to apply it:

• Narrate your actions: “I’m holding the door because it makes life easier for the person behind me.”

• Encourage kids to repair mistakes: “What could you say to make it right?”

• Praise kindness you notice, not just achievement.

3. Prioritize Self-Care as a Parent

Barrymore is open about therapy and burnout, reminding parents that you can’t pour from an empty cup.

How to apply it:

• Build short breaks into your day — even five minutes to breathe.

• Be honest with your kids when you’re tired instead of pretending everything’s fine.

• Show them healthy coping habits: journaling, exercise, prayer, or therapy.

4. Value Relationships Above Busyness

Drew says relationships are “everything.” Success feels empty if your closest bonds suffer.

How to apply it:

• Make family meals a no-phone zone.

• Set aside 10–15 minutes of one-on-one time daily with each child.

• Teach kids to check in on friends and siblings: “Ask how their day was.”

5. Give Kids (and Yourself) Grace

Drew acknowledges that not every child is naturally tidy or organized. That’s okay.

How to apply it:

• Recognize effort, even if the result isn’t perfect.

• Avoid comparing siblings — what works for one child might not work for another.

• Show kids that you mess up too, and model how to reset: “I didn’t finish cleaning the kitchen yesterday, but I’m starting fresh today.”

Final Thoughts

Drew Barrymore’s parenting philosophy is simple but powerful:

• Tidy spaces help calm minds.

• Kindness matters.

• Parents need self-care too.

• Relationships come first.

• Grace goes a long way.

And when it comes to motivating kids to clean, the “how” depends on their age and stage. With toddlers, it’s about fun and modeling. With tweens, it’s about responsibility and independence. With teens, it’s about respect and preparing them for life outside the home.

❓ Featured Snippet Q&A

Q: How do I motivate my kids to clean their room?

A: Start by making cleanup fun for toddlers with songs and games, set simple checklists for younger kids, and tie responsibilities to privileges for tweens. For teens, connect cleanliness to independence and respect their autonomy while holding them accountable in shared spaces.

Q: What is Drew Barrymore’s parenting advice?

A: Drew Barrymore teaches her children that a tidy space helps create a tidy mind, kindness matters most, and self-care is essential for parents. She also stresses prioritizing relationships and giving kids (and yourself) grace.

Q: How do I balance parenting and self-care?

A: Be honest with your kids when you feel overwhelmed, set aside short daily breaks, and model healthy coping habits like exercise, prayer, journaling, or therapy. This shows children that self-care is not selfish — it’s necessary.

Q: How can parents teach kids kindness?

A: Model kindness daily, praise small acts of thoughtfulness, and encourage kids to repair mistakes with apologies. Drew Barrymore reminds her daughters that being unkind only makes you feel worse about yourself in the long run.

Parenting is about growth. These four chores will help your kids mature while learning discipline and responsibility.

About the author

In 1995, Gerardo became a stepdad to two children, a boy and a girl, ages 14 and 10. In 2011, he started the website Support for Stepfathers to reverse the nearly 70% divorce rate for blended families in the United States. His website is to help and inspire stepfathers, aspiring stepfathers, and the women who love them worldwide. You can follow Support for Stepdads on Twitter and Facebook.