What happens when two Hollywood stars embrace free-range parenting in Denmark? Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard's recent escapades reveal a mix of adventure, independence, and some quirky mishaps.
- September 22, 2024
AceShowbiz - Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard tried something unconventional on their recent family vacation to Denmark. As shared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", the celebrity couple decided to experiment with free-range parenting, letting their daughters Lincoln, 11, and Delta, 9, explore Tivoli Gardens, a historic 181-year-old amusement park, by themselves for hours each day.
"Don't you find that going on vacation as a parent - it's not a vacation, it's just watching your kids in a different city?" Bell asked Kimmel during the interview. Shepard and Bell found a solution by staying at a hotel that opens directly into Tivoli Gardens. This setup allowed their children to "scan their bracelets to go outside" and roam freely without supervision.
Despite the apparent risks, Bell felt liberated by the experience. "It was heaven," she noted, explaining that she and Shepard "had coffee, played spades, and then around three we'd be like, 'Anybody see them?' and then they'd run up and need a Band-Aid or whatever." The actress added with a laugh, "They're both alive. We all returned home."
Bell elaborated on how the trip underscored her and Shepard's philosophy of diversifying their children's worldview through travel.
"We try to travel with the kids every summer, somewhere where we just say, 'We're gonna pick a place on the globe… we're just gonna see how other people live and we're gonna observe,'" she explained. "It's kind of a great way to burst their bubble." It's a method she believes helps the children grow more independent and responsible.
This approach, known as free-range parenting, allows kids to navigate the world more freely in order to encourage self-reliance. In Denmark, this was facilitated by relaxed rules at the amusement park, where children were allowed on rides without adult supervision. "It's real loosey goosey over there," Bell chuckled.
But the humor didn't stop at the theme park. Reflecting on an earlier memory, Bell recounted an amusing episode at a silent disco where Shepard's energetic dancing led to a sweaty disaster. "He danced so hard his shirt fell off!" she laughed, adding that his soaked shirt had to be disposed of.
Through such experiences, both light-hearted and thoughtful, Bell and Shepard continue to show that parenting can successfully blend fun, independence, and valuable life lessons.
