16 Former Teen Stars Who Are Now Parents to Teens Themselves

See Neil Patrick Harris, Kyla Pratt, Jodie Sweetin and more former teen stars who are now parents to teenagers

It may be hard to believe, but some of the young stars who rose to fame playing witty kids and strong-willed teenagers on TV and in movies are not only parents, but parents to teenagers!

Stars like Bow Wow, James Van Der Beek, Neil Patrick Harris and Christina Applegate have just entered the era with their 13-year-old kids, while the likes of Jodie Sweetin, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and more have been in it for some time. Still, the superstar parents seem to be managing, as their mini-mes seem to be carving their own paths and leading "normal" lives away from the spotlight.

Below, check out these 16 former child and teen stars who are now parents to teenagers.

Jodie Sweetin: Daughters Zoie Herpin and Beatrix Sweetin Coyle

Five-year-old Jodie Sweetin had us all saying "How rude!" during her tenure as Stephanie Tanner on Full House in the '80s and early '90s. Following the success of Full House, Sweetin stepped away from the spotlight before she returned for the show's reboot, Fuller House, in 2016.

In the interim, Sweetin welcomed two daughters, Zoie Herpin, now 16 (with ex Cody Herpin), and Beatrix Sweetin Coyle, now 13 (with ex Morty Coyle).

The actress, now 42, opened up about what it's like parenting kids in the digital age, telling Today, "With the advent of social media, I think it's even harder because you're a kid."

"You're going to do dumb things. You're going to post dumb things. You're going to do silly things," she said. "And now all of the attention is on so many young people to be perfect and look good ... It's a lot of pressure."

She continued, "I have honest conversations with [my kids] about what social media really is — that it's not real. The things that you see, that you wish you looked like, or you wish you were, are not the real people ... It's edited."

Bow Wow: Daughter Shai Moss

Bow Wow, 37, took the world by storm as a young Hip Hop sensation when he was just a tween. These days, however, he's juggling his career with being the father of a newly minted teenager.

On April 28, the "My Baby" rapper celebrated his daughter Shai Moss' 13th birthday. "Started as a teen now i have one. happy birthday  @_shaimoss  #girldad 🎂 #thebig13," the rapper wrote on Instagram, commemorating his baby girl's special day.

Bow Wow shares his daughter with ex Joie Chavis. He is also dad to son Stone, whom he shares with ex Olivia Sky.

Neil Patrick Harris: Twins Harper and Gideon

Dr. Doogie Howser is all grown up! Neil Patrick Harris, who played the titular child prodigy in the popular '80s show, is now a proud father of two.

Harris and his husband David Burtka welcomed twins Harper and Gideon, now 13, via surrogate back in 2010. And when asked about how the kids were faring as they entered teenagehood in October of last year, Harris revealed all is well — so far.

"We keep being told that at a certain point, they're going to hate us," Harris, 50, told Entertainment Tonight while at the 2023 God’s Love We Deliver Golden Heart Awards. "That hasn't happened yet. So you know, so far, so good!"

"They're good kids. We've done a good job. You put the work in and you get it back, you know?" Burtka, 48, added.

Soleil Moon Frye: Daughters Sienna Rose and Jagger Blue

Another actress who started her career as a tween, Soleil Moon Frye took the nation by storm when she portrayed Penelope "Punky" Brewster in the NBC sitcom, Punky Brewster.

Over the years, she snagged roles in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Proud Family, Robot Chicken and many more.

Off-screen, the now 48-year-old Hollywood veteran is a proud mom of four, with two teen daughters — Sienna Rose, 18, and Jagger Blue, 16 — as well as two sons — Lyric Sonny Roads, 10, and Story, 8 — with ex Jason Goldberg.

Mellisa Joan Hart: Sons Braydon and Mason Wilkerson

Melissa Joan Hart is approaching empty nester status!

The Sabrina the Teenage Witch star, 48, just sent her oldest son Mason to his high school prom and chronicled the entire event on her Instagram page. Not far behind is her second son, Braydon, 16, whom she ushered off to his homecoming dance last October.

“When they're little, it just seems like it's never going to end. The diapers and cleanups and the feeding them,” she told PEOPLE of her kids growing up back in 2020.

“And now ... they say the bigger the kid, the bigger their problem is. It’s true. Now my kids are getting into dating and girls and school stuff, school drama, and wanting to be social and, ‘Mom, you're not cool.’ ”

Hart also shares a third son, Tucker McFadden, 11, with her husband Mark Wilkerson.

Kyla Pratt: Daughter Lyric Kai Kilpatrick

Though she is famously the voice behind Penny Proud, Kyla Pratt, 37, became a household name when she portrayed the strong-willed, high school-age Breanna Barnes on the UPN series, One on One.

Nowadays, the actress is a mother to her own teenager, as her oldest daughter, Lyric Kai Kilpatrick (above right) is 14. The Doctor Doolittle actress also shares a younger daughter Liyah, 11, with her long-term partner, Danny Kilpatrick.

Pratt is also close to Kilpatrick's son from a previous relationship, Danny Kilpatrick Jr.

Britney Spears: Sons Sean Preston and Jayden James Federline

Long before she became a pop icon, Britney Spears was dancing and singing her heart out on Disney's Mickey Mouse Club in the early '90s.

She would later marry Kevin Federline in September of 2004 and the pair welcomed two sons — Sean Preston, now 18, and Jayden James, now 17 — before calling it quits in 2007.

“Starting a family was my dream come true. Being a mom was my dream come true,” the "Gimme More" hitmaker, 42, revealed when she appeared on the October 2023 cover of PEOPLE.

Through world tours and album promos, the boys were often with her, no matter where she went.

In 2021, Spears joked on Instagram, "I had my babies very young … at all the pools we went to on tours, all the babies flocked to me because I always brought the most toys 🧸🪁🪀. I really am a baby mamma 😜😜😜 !!!!"

Christina Aguilera: Son Max Liron Bratman

Another former Mousketeer, Christina Aguilera and her ex-husband Jordan Bratman welcomed their now 15-year-old son Max Liron on Jan. 12, 2008.

The couple split in 2010 and the "Beautiful" singer has since moved on and found new love in fiancé Matt Rutler, with whom she shares a 9-year-old daughter named Summer Rain.

Following the addition of Summer in 2014, Aguilera, now 43, got candid about the realities of being a working mom.

"It's definitely not easy juggling work and motherhood, as being a parent is a full-time job within itself," she told PEOPLE in 2019. "You just have to make it work for you. My life has so many different moving parts, but my kids are the center focal piece, and everything else shifts around them."

Christina Applegate: Daughter Sadie Grace LeNoble

Outside of being a talented actress, one thing that's clear about Christina Applegate is her deep love for her 13-year-old daughter, Sadie.

The Married with Children alumna, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, gave her favorite girl a sweet shoutout as she was receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in 2022.

"The most important person in this world is my daughter," Applegate, 52, said. "You are so much more than even you know. You are so beautiful and kind and loving and smart and interesting, and I am blessed every day that I get to wake up and take you to your school. You are my everything. Thank you for standing beside me through all of this."

Dad is Applegate's husband, Martyn LeNoble.

Mayim Bialik: Sons Miles and Frederick

Mayim Bialik hit the small screen as Blossom when she was only 15 years old; now, her youngest is the same age.

The Big Bang Theory alumna and her now-ex husband Michael Stone welcomed firstborn Miles on Oct. 11, 2005. The couple then added to their family with the birth of Frederick on Aug. 15, 2008.

Bialik, who is also an author and neuroscientist, seems to have earned some cool points from her boys over the years.

"I'm a fun mom," the 48-year-old told ABC News in 2013. "My boys think of me as fun but I definitely have a lot of my parents' strong work ethic and emphasis on chores. When they ask for an allowance for their chores, I say, 'I don't get paid for my chores. I’m not paying you for yours.' "

In fact, it was Miles who encouraged Mom grab her most recent gig. While guest-hosting Jeopardy! back 2021, Bialik stated: "As I start my second week of guest-hosting Jeopardy!, I want to thank my 15-year-old, Miles. He was the one who first suggested I give this a try and I hope I am making him and his little brother, Frederick, proud."

Jason Bateman: Daughter Francesca Nora Bateman

With a career that spans four decades, it's easy to forget that Jason Bateman, 53, got his start on Little House on the Prairie when he was a pre-teen.

When he's not shelling out hits such as Arrested Development, Ozark and Horrible Bosses, Bateman is dad to his two daughters Francesca Nora, 17, and Maple Sylvie, 12, whom he shares with his wife Amanda Anka.

The pair have decidedly chosen to keep their kids away from the spotlight, though Bateman often talks about the joys of fatherhood.

"Being a father of two is everything I wanted," the Smartless host, 55, told Redbook in 2013. "I'm a big fan of marriage and being a dad. And my wife, Amanda, makes those things easy. She spoils me; she makes the husband part simple."

Jessica Alba: Daughter Honor Marie Warren

She may have inspired us all to hit the dance floor as Honey in the 2003 flick of the same name, but Jessica Alba, 43, first appeared on screen in 1994's Camp Nowhere. She later starred in Into the Blue, The Eye, Good Luck Chuck and Fantastic Four — where she met her future husband, Cash Warren.

The two got married in a courthouse wedding in 2008 and shortly thereafter welcomed their now 15-year-old daughter Honor Marie Warren. They followed up with Haven Garner, 12, and Hayes Alba, 6.

The actress and entrepreneur has previously opened up about the challenges of parenting a teen, telling Rachel Ray in 2021, "They don't want you to even be right. And in fact, when they talk to you, they don't even really want to get your opinion, they just want to talk."

"That's what I've learned. It's not about any advice or opinions," she added. "They just want you to say like, 'Yes, wow.' "

Jamie Lynn Spears: Daughter Maddie Briann Aldridge

It seems like just yesterday Jamie Lynn Spears, 33, announced she was expecting her first child. At the time, the Zoey 101 star was 16 years old.

Fast forward a decade (and more) later, that baby is now 15 years old and a stellar high school athlete. Maddie Briann Aldridge — whom Spears shares with ex-fiancé Casey Aldridge — is a constant source of pride for her mom as indicated by the Sweet Magnolias star's Instagram page.

In April, Spears posted a series of gorgeous pictures of her firstborn headed to prom. "5 to 15 happens reallll quick😭," the mom sweetly lamented.

Spears has a second daughter, Ivey, with husband Jamie Watson.

James Van Der Beek: Daughter Olivia Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek has been making us swoon since his career began back in the '90s, but in real life, he is a dedicated dad to the six kids he shares with wife, Kimberly, including 13-year-old Olivia.

"My philosophy has always been to be completely honest," the actor, 47, told PEOPLE in 2020 about his parenting style.

"We have watched our lives change with each kid," he continued. "We've watched opportunities grow, and we've seen the positive effect it's had on our other kids. And the added love brought into the house lights everybody up in a way that is kind of undeniable."

Brooke Shields: Daughter Grier Hammond Henchy

Brooke Shields has been a national treasure since she was in diapers. And while she has had many personal highs and lows, as chronicled in her 2023 Hulu documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, the actress, 58, has found comfort and solace in her family.

Shields has been married to her husband, Chris Henchy, since 2001. In 2003, the couple welcomed their first daughter Rowan Francis, and later welcomed their second, Grier Hammond, who is now 18.

Much like Jodie Sweetin, The Blue Lagoon actress is constantly highlighting the plights of social media to her growing daughters.

"What I do really reiterate over and over and over again is that what you see may not be the reality," she told PEOPLE in 2022.

"And you can't just accept it because the spotlight's on it and it's on Instagram. You really have to know that it's the world of Oz because behind the curtain, that's where you want to live."

Jaleel White: Daughter Samaya

A quick glance at Jaleel White's Instagram page and you can tell the Family Matters actor is close to his 15-year-old daughter, Samaya. The proud dad often posts sweet photos of the pair at sporting events, on outdoor adventures or spending some quality time at home.

Naturally, when White married his now-wife Nicoletta Ruhl, Samaya was right by her dad's side.

The pair's closeness is of course intentional as White, 47, revealed that he emphasizes the importance of communication in his parenting style.

"Talk to your kids👂🏾Don’t wait until they get to middle school and can no longer hear you. Invite them to speak about what’s on their hearts and they will blow your minds away with what all they see 👀 Teach them today what you learned at age 30," the actor wrote on Instagram back in 2020.

Mom is White's ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy.

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