Stars Tackling Tots

Celebrity Dads Share Advice

By Elisa Ast All

It's always helpful to get insight from experienced parents. Don't think you have much in common with famous actors or athletes? Think again! Raising small children is a challenge for anyone, even celebrities! The dads below offer their perspective on raising tiny tots.

While most of us know actor/director/producer Henry Winkler from his role as "The Fonz" on Happy Days, many people are unaware that this dad of three is dyslexic. He only recognized that he had the condition when his stepson, Jed, was diagnosed with it when Winkler was 31.

Inspired by his experience with the condition, in 2003 Winkler began writing a series of children's books featuring the character Hank Zipzer, "the World's Greatest Underachiever." Today, many kids feel better about themselves because they identify with Hank's struggles.

Winkler's advice for parents of children with learning disabilities is simple: Don't be embarrassed. "A lot of times if their child is different in any way, parents take it as a reflection on them," Winkler says. "They forget that learning challenges are usually hereditary. They need to look within themselves."

Winkler notes that it's important to praise children for their strengths. "The kid feels it and knows you are disappointed," he says. "As opposed to, 'You are a wonderful person with a particular problem. We'll deal with the problem.' Every one of my children has some sort of learning challenge, and they all did great because we told them, 'You are great.' Parental support is like life's blood."

Kevin Costner is one of the growing number of A-list film stars that bring their children to the set. Because many of the films Costner has starred in are not geared toward children, he has taken a cautious approach to what his three kids see him do.

"I don't want to be limited," Costner says. "But I shield them from things they shouldn't be seeing."

Costner says the secret is to keep communicating. "My kids are involved. I talk to them," he says. "I have talked to them always since they were little. I've always engaged my children about life, about what life means with us in the public eye, how it's affected their lives I've always talked to them about it. So, God bless them, they're my greatest production."

Want to see more?

• Meet another Hollywood dad, Rob Estes!
• Meet John McGinley!
• Celebrity Blogs
• Talk about it!