How Iya Villania And Drew Arellano Apply a Gentle Parenting Approach To Their Boys

Despite having busy work schedules, celebrity parents Iya Villania and Drew Arellano remain hands-on in raising their children, Primo and Leon.

But being hands-on doesn’t mean keeping a tight hold on their boys, with Iya and Drew choosing to follow a gentle parenting approach. Here’s how they do it:

1. Let children explore and discover things by themselves.

They might be gentle as parents, letting their kids learn and explore on their own, but Iya and Drew still apply an appropriate amount of control to ensure their children are safe.

“As parents, parang naisip namin, with both Primo and Leon, the best approach might be just to be gentle and loving and caring. Well, we try not to control them too much. We want them to explore, have fun [basta] alam namin na they’re both safe,” Drew says.

2. Create safe spaces at home.

Typically, Iya and Drew take turns watching over and playing with their kids if either of them is busy with work. But on days when both are occupied, they make sure to create safe spaces for their boys to play in.

“May mga days din na pareho kaming busy, and we both have to get work done, so we leave them with things that they like to do. Kunwari, si Leon, he loves his train tapos lalagyan ng coins. Si Primo, gusto niya yung jet niya or learning and playing games on the tablet.

“As long as we leave them in a safe environment, zero worry kami,” Iya says.

3. Use kid-friendly products at home.

Their parenting approach extends to the products they use at home, especially those that come in contact with their children’s skin. “Everything needs to be safe and kid-friendly,” Drew emphasizes.

Case in point: fabric conditioner.

“For instance, when washing our clothes, we can’t just use any fabcon na. We need to use a fabcon that will make our clothes smell fresh and feel soft but also safe for our kids.

“Like our most recent discovery: Downy Hypoallergenic. Because there’s zero percent dyes or added preservatives, plus the fact that it’s dermatologically tested, at least I know it’s safe and gentle on my kids’ skin. So that makes me a worry-free mom,” Iya says.

Like what Iya and Drew show, it’s possible to be gentle and attentive to children’s needs even as parents are busy juggling work with household duties.

As Drew puts it, “Basta no matter how busy you guys get, you have to give attention and acknowledge their presence.”

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