These are photos of Jennifer Garner at the Toronto Film Festival over the weekend promoting her new movie, with Adam Sandler, Men, Women and Children. The black dress with the side fishnet panels is what she wore to the premiere, it’s Stella McCartney. She’s wearing the eggplant colored dress at a press conference, that’s Proenza Schouler. The dresses are somewhat plain but I like her styling. She looks sexay with all that hair, I’m sure there are a lot of extensions in there but they look good. She’s also shown fresh-faced at the airport.
I just watched the trailer for the film and I think it explores how technology is changing us into secretive, sneaky people or bringing out that aspect of our personalities or something. It’s hard to tell what the movie is about exactly. Men, Women and Children is directed and written by Jason Reitman (Up in The Air, Juno) so it could be decent.
In an interview with E! (video here), Garner fielded questions about technology and about her husband, Ben Affleck, getting in wicked good shape to play Battfleck. Her answers were kind of funny, and I like that she admitted she’s not sure what to do as a mom.
In real life, Garner, 42, and Ben Affleck, 42, are parents to daughters Violet Affleck, 8, Seraphina Affleck, 5, and son Samuel Affleck, 2. How do they know when to let their kids start using technology?’
“It’s all such a constant conversation, isn’t it?” Garner marveled. “I think we’re all as a society figuring out what’s appropriate. I mean, we can’t keep in front of what our kids are learning or seeing or using, technology-wise. It’s happening before we can even…We’re all running to catch up, us stupid grown-ups! Thank goodness my kids are little enough that they’re far from having phones or iPads or anything.”
Giddings noted that it was much different when he was growing up, and Garner agreed with that notion. “Maybe you got your hands on a Playboy at some point and you were like, ‘Wow!'” the actress joked.
But back to Affleck!
The actor beefed up for his role in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which has been shooting in the Detroit area all summer. Anna Faris recently said she preferred Chris Pratt before he gained muscle for Guardians of the Galaxy, but Garner said she has no preference when it comes to her hubby’s physique.“He was in crazy shape for The Town,” she said, referring to the film Affleck co-wrote and directed. “I’ve seen him kind of in every different variation, so I’ll take him however I can get him! But as long as this is the guy I’m married to, I’m kind of like, ‘Wow! That’s crazy!’ He looks insane. He’s worked really hard.”
“If he happened to go back to being a normal human, I’d be fine with that, too,” she added.
Men, Women & Children is in limited release Oct. 3 and opens nationwide Oct. 17.
I don’t agree that you can’t necessarily keep in front of what your kids learn and see. NetNanny. Use it. Don’t let your kids use a computer or tablet when you’re not in the same room unless you have parental controls set on it. Check their internet history. If you take preventative measures and talk to your kids, you can make it harder for them to see anything inappropriate. In general my son is ahead of me with technology, though, I know what she means.
I also wonder if she means her kids don’t use iPads or if they personally don’t have their own. We have two iPads, a 1 and a 2, and technically they’re mine but my son uses them. He also uses my phone. I have seen photos of both Garner and Affleck with iPads so I bet their kids use them and they supervise them. That’s different than not letting them use technology at all.
I’m glad she said, “little enough,” because I guess that means she’s not throwing shade at every parent whose kids use technology. However, I’m so sick of this pseudo-philosophical bullshit about kids growing up like “in the old days” or whatever. They didn’t have effing vaccines a hundred years ago, but we still give them to our kids now. Technology is amazing, and if your kids aren’t overweight and ignorant, there’s no harm in letting them indulge in a little fruit ninja.
I think balance is key and also that every kid is different. We didn’t expose our kids to a lot of technology or TV for that matter and my older son who is 15 really keeps his screen time to a minimum, he’s just not that into it. His friends give him grief about not being on social media or replying to texts but he prefers face to face contact. My 13 year old, though, once he got hold of my iPhone, could be on it all day playing games and watching videos if I wasn’t on him pretty much all the time. They both have Chromebooks for school and have been using computers for years for schoolwork so it’s not like they are behind.
Sounds like the Afflecks are good at finding balance in the technology sphere, and she seems to get that it may not always be so easy.
I think you’ve got it down – balance is key.
You can’t shield them from technology completely, but you can monitor and set expectations on screen time. I was allowed about an hour on the computer unless I was looking up school stuff, right up until I had my own laptop. Partially because my brother and I shared the family PC, and it had to be fair, and partially because my parents didn’t want us staring at a screen all day.
Now, on the other hand, my SIL refused to learn anything about computers all through high school and is now in her third year of nursing and really struggled to get things done because she didn’t bother to learn even basic computer skills. Nobody is going to hand hold you in University and teach you how to use Word. By high school, they should really at least have some basic word processing skills, and know how to research things. Other than that, there’s no realllll need.
I agree about the balance. I think there are many adults who need to learn that for themselves too.
Erinn I know a few people like that too. One kept telling me she was too old to know how to do all the computer stuff (that she needed for her job) because they didn’t have it when she was a kid (she’s late 40s/early 50s). I’d always remind her of a family friend who in her late 90s was emailing and using facebook.
@Beth that line about fruit ninja just made me chuckle.
I’m sorry Jen technology will continue to advance regardless if you’re kids are on board or not. Headphones were included on my son’s school supply list because they will be using IPads in class. Most schools have already adopted the computer age. In my school district the older kids receives homework assignments via their email from their teachers. As long as it’s done in moderation and monitored let the kids play their games or watch their kiddy shows.
It’s ashame Jen because once your kids finally get an email accout they might be like teacher this thing ain’t working, I put at gmail.com but it keeps saying incorrect email address. How embarrassing it will be for your kids when the teacher says out loud, my dear that’s because you have to put the symbol sign @ not at.
true! moderation and balance is key.
i babysat a colleague’s kid once, for a few hours, and the little girl refused all sorts of coloring in, little analog games, and whatnot available at our small office. she kept trying to swipe-gesture the front of my Natgeo magazine to get it to change pictures then cried in frustrated anger.
i found out that her motor skills is lacking for her age, she can’t child-grip a page to turn it (she can’t even get the concept of physically turning a page, i had to begin with the Apple all finger pinch and go from there), not comfortable with pens and pencils thicker than Samsung stylus.
but she intuitively knew her way around my Android phone, quickly found the youtube icon and _typed_ a search for Pocoyo (but she couldn’t write it on paper without “copying” the alphabets from the keyboard).
i found out later that to save trees and help with mobility there are no books or pencils at home for her. she does all her coloring in on the tablet, she reads all her story books on it too. her counting blocks and learning is done on screen. she has no telly-time, only youtube-time.
tbh my colleague is worried for when the girl start kindergarden. it won’t be anywhere near as digital as what she’s used to at home.
In reading the excerpts here at CB and elsewhere, I didn’t get the impression at all that the kids aren’t using (and learning about) technology… simply that it is supervised, and they don’t have their own iPads, cell phones, etc., yet. Nothing wrong with that.
@lowercase – I”m pretty sure those parents are going to be getting quite a talking to from their Kindergarten teacher, because a lot of those non-digital tasks are integral to development. In fact, Im surprised their pediatrician hasn’t already. That kid is in for a rough start with school.
There is every reason not to expose children to this stuff. I understand that it is ubiquitous in our society but that does not mean everybody has to join the bandwagon. There is no turning back the clock or changing the times we live in but you can certainly make choices to protect your children from too much exposure, too soon. Just like junk food, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to eat it, their whole lives long, why start early with filling them up with crap food? This mind candy is the same, just like empty calories in junk food. Your kids don’t need it and yet their lives will be full to overflowing with it. Childhood development is a limited window of opportunity, we can all think of better things for kids to do than play video games.
I think this age of time, kids need to learn how to use technology. It’s almost like it would hinder them if they didn’t have knowledge on how to use it. That doesn’t mean access to everything on the internet. Get a good net nanny program, but I feel like it’s important to keep up with whatever is going on.
I’m quite sick of Hollywood parents bragging about restricting their children’s access to technology. Middle school kids in my area have iPads or Chrome books supplied by the school. Keeping them away from technology isn’t doing them any favors. And I’m sure it’s easier to not whip out the iPad when you have an army of nannies.
On a more shallow note, she looks terrible in that last pic. It demonstrates what a plain jane she really is without the “Hollywood treatment”. Good luck with Ben.
Except she really didn’t say anything of the sort. All she said was that her kids didn’t have their own. There is a huge difference in middle schoolers using iPads and litle toddlers, whose brains are still very much developing, having constant access to that sort of technology. Lots of studies showing the damage that too much screen time can do to little ones. It’s all about balance.
That’s how I took it too – she’s not saying the kids don’t know how to use it, just that they don’t have their own devices and 24/7 access to it.
I took the statement at face value; the kids don’t have iPads/iPhones, not that the children didn’t have their *own* iPads. And the eldest child is 8 or 9? Probably old enough to be using devices for school.
Exactly. Honestly, I think the most strident and angry complaints we hear in society about parents who promote limits on access to tech typically come from parents who know they’ve allowed their kids too much time plugged in. When we were in DisneyWorld (a place that is sensory overload for the average kid), we saw a ton of children being pushed in strollers or stumbling blindly along with an iPhone or an iPad or some kind of handheld gaming device…totally oblivious to their surroundings. In DisneyWorld. I was so sad for those kids. Their little brains have just been fried by the constant overstimulation, and they have never learned to just BE where they are. They have to have some kind of input or they get uncomfortable.
So you can preach to me about how I’m damaging my child because I never let her have a DS and I don’t let her have her own phone or iPad (she knows how to use all of these things). I think we all know whose kids are actually damaged, though. It isn’t the ones whose parents control and limit access to tech toys.
If you don’t limit access to tech for your kids, you’re screwing up. Yes, if you hand the kid an iPhone, put a TV and laptop in his room, give him a DS in every waiting room and on every car trip, your kid is going to appear calm and unobtrusive. You’re going to have to do a lot less parenting and deal with a lot less talking, fidgeting, and noise. Yay for you. Your kid, however, is learning absolutely nothing about how to interact with human beings, how to use his imagination, how to focus his attention, or developing situational awareness. Sorry. You’re full of crap, and I think you all know it…and that’s why it makes you so defensive and upset when people make public statements about the value of limiting access to tech for kids.
Aww, I was just thinking how cute she looks in that photo!
Very much agree… We see Jen without make up all of the time, and I think she is beautiful, whether she’s glammed up, or make up free!
I agree. She looks cute in the last photo. When she wants to glam up she does it very well. There’s nothing wrong with looking natural, minus all the makeup and hairstyling. It must feel great.
She looks great in the last pic.
“I’m quite sick of Hollywood parents bragging about restricting their children’s access to technology.” – I think if one just read the headline then that’s the impression received. But when reading the article it sounds like she’s on board with letting the kids “use” technology, but trying to balance it out.
My biggest pet peeve is when parents don’t “parent” and just hand their kid an iPhone/iPad to shut them up. And sure, hit me with the standard “wait to until you have a kid”, but I remember my childhood. A stern look from my mom or dad would do the trick. And, do it well. 😉
Also, the graphics online are pretty advanced/harsh (not sure of the word here – there’s just a lot of vivid colors and rapid movement) and you have to watch the screens from close range. Does that have any effect on the eyes overtime? Or does it just affect older eyes because we didn’t get acclimated until later on in life?
I think it depends on the child, but I’m fairly certain my mother would’ve whipped out that iPad on my brother when he was little if they had been available! I think parents of each generation use whatever tools are available to them at the time.
They develope sleep problems with all of the flashing and rapid movement when over using computors, ipads etc. Too much gadgetry is not good.
wow. You took that really personally. I just think she meant that her kids don’t have their own devices, which they shouldn’t. We know they’ve used the devices and I’m positive she and Ben have them. Moderation is key. Technology is important and has so many benefits in terms of how we communicate and kids can be educated, but Jen simply saying her kids don’t have them (meaning their own), doesn’t mean they don’t use them.
There is no danger of them being left behind. Technology is part of education and is in the hands of practically everybody, children included. Parents have every right to decide not to run with the herd. There is no reason for her three young children to be exposed to iPads and iPhones any more than they already are. The minute they do encounter one, they’re simple and user friendly, there is no tech gap about to form. Technology is a tool in a person’s hand, not a social mandate to do exactly what everybody else does.
Meh, my kids have their own leappads that have learning games and g rated stuff. They’ve played on our phones and iPads. We didn’t have a computer in our house until 1990. This is a different time and kids (especially 8 year olds) should know how to navigate technology.
My son has been using technology since he was a toddler starting with leapfrog and such. He has been using my PC since he was 3 and they learn how to navigate very quickly. Our kids are going to be so much more advanced than we are due to the continuous advancement of technology and the ability to just click. How many of us who haved used a certain computer program or just using the computer have been afraid to click on something that we don’t fully understand due to being afraid of losing our work, or accidentally deleting something we need. Kids don’t have that fear, they just click, click, click and learn from their mistakes. That’s why they are so good with all this modern technology. They make us look like amateurs.
This stuff is completely user friendly and often targeted to children, any eight year old, even a Luddite, could pick it up in five minutes. All these young people will have a lifetime of devices and technology, staring at screens, there is nothing wrong with choosing to limit that exposure in the only window you ever get to do so.
She looks stunning with a little make up and hairstyling!
+1 And these simple, classic silhouettes look wonderful on her!
Most PTOs recommend not giving kids their own smartphones until after the 6th grade.
Even though at times she has seemed a bit boring. I find her very like able and refreshing as years go on, she comes off as a nice lady. I like her more everytime I read about her.
that hair looks like a wig, or at least hair plugs.
My son is 11 months and even this young he shows interest in wanting to see my phone. I never let him have it and I don’t let him watch TV. My pediatrician says children should have a good grasp of language before TV is introduced. I’m not saying I don’t want him to learn to be tech-savvy once he’s school aged. But yesterday we were at the zoo and I saw a 2 year old in a stroller with an ipad strapped in front of him watching cartoons. I wanted to scream at the mother, “It’s a beautiful day with your child AT THE ZOO! Why are you shoving an ipad in his face? Let him look at what’s going on around him!”
Well, my lovely – and little – Sixlets are both capable of programming with the Raspberry Pi. Take that, Jennifer, you Luddite.
If you don’t want your kids to get into trouble with social media, TEACH THEM HOW TO USE IT AND STAY SAFE AT THE SAME TIME.
That failing to equip one’s child with the tools to deal with the modern world successfully can be turned into a boast about pure parenting… well, it just defeats me. It really does.
She never once said she doesn’t let them use technology she JUST said not without her there to supervise and they do not have their own personal ipads or phones yet, it sounds like they use their computers with them their supervising. Don’t be so quick to judge – read the context of what is being said first. Take that you likewise Luddite.
She looks bam wham! really pretty and sexy.
I hate to be the contrarian, but something about Jennifer Garner bugs me. She is pretty and a decent actress and seems “down to earth” – her kids are uttery adorable – but there’s…I don’t know… something slightly subserviant about her that I find somewhat disingenuous. I may be totally off the mark. It’s just the vibe I get.
Her kids are too young for a phone and IPads anyway. I think if they were at least pre-teens.
Their kids are kind of young to have a phone anyway imho.
I think an ipad would be ok if you restricted their internet access and just had games on there.
Why is there an epidemic of Cancer – Cellphones plus chemicals (constant repeated exposure through fragrances in perfume, deodorant.laundry soap, febreeze on the couch, diapers, maxi-pads, plus any chemicals you have to use at work – many jobs some kind of toxic exposure and cellphones are biologically active. It is hard to get ‘fresh’ air anymore because it smells like febreeze and petrol perfumes and equally hard to get quiet anymore because the air is clogged with useless yapping. The Cure is found in the cause and it seems society is very addicted to the causes of cancer.
LOL there is no evidence to link cell phones and cancer… DO some real research if you’re interested in environmental factors contributing to cancer. Sick of people spewing crap.
As my otherwise healthy uncle died of brain cancer after years of daily cell phone and remote phone use, I for one am very concerned about the reality of danger from long term daily exposure to these devices. We do not know if cell phones are carcinogenic. People may assert an opinion one way or the other but we do not have scientific proof either way. It is a subject of current research and debate in the medical and scientific community.
My kids (14 and 16) are well versed in technology; have been since they were old enough to be interested. But there’s a balance. They didn’t have their own computers or smart phones or ipads until they were 14. And they have no real interest in social media. They have facebook accounts, but are hardly even on it and they both have barely used instagram accounts. And I’m constantly on line and on social media.
I really don’t think she meant that her kids have never used ipads, iphones, etc. because that would not only be untrue (photographic evidence) but as many of you have pointed out, ridiculous and not practical. An 8/9 year old does not need to own their own ipad, especially since if she has one her younger sister, who is about 5/6, will want one. It’s about balance and teaching kids how to use it in a way that is beneficial. I don’t think this interview is evidence that the Afflecks are depriving their children from being properly educated on technology, it’s just their view of handling it. People are allowed to parent in different ways.
I’m 25 now and I didn’t get a cell phone until my 17th birthday. My 3 1/2 year old has played on my iPad occasionally but they are always educational games. I really don’t want her glued to electronics at an early age. Her cousin ( 1 1/2 month older than her) is constantly allowed to play on his mom’s tablet and in my opinion he’s suffering. He can’t build a house with blocks but he can access the games she has for herself on her tablet. I read a study that while playing with electronics can increase motor skills, it also can hinder the development of other things (such as the blocks). No shade to parents that allow their kids to play with electronics as a source of entertainment and education but from working in childcare for years, I feel it should be monitored. For every hour or half hour they are on the iPad/tablet, spend an hour or two doing things such as flash cards, puzzles, books, building blocks. Things that stimulate the child’s mind rather than just constantly being glued to a screen.
She hasn’t looked this pretty since having kids.
law enforcement flashlight