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