Ryan Reynolds made sad realisation about how he raises his kids

Ryan Reynolds switched up his parenting style after making a sad 'realisation' about his own childhood.

It's pretty hard for any children of Hollywood stars to live a 'normal' life, as it's a far from normal position to be in.

However, Ryan has said that ensuring his kids have a 'normal' as possible childhood is at the top of his priority list.

The star shares four children - James, nine, Inez, eight, Betty, five, and son Olin, one - with his wife Blake Lively.

And although both boast the most luxurious of lives, he is determined to keep their children as grounded as possible.

Ryan Reynolds is trying to raise his kids as 'normal' as possible. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: "We try to give them as normal a life as possible.

"I try not to impose upon them the difference in their childhood to my childhood or my wife’s childhood."

However, one realisation he made as a parent changed the way he thought about things.

The star added: "We both grew up very working class, and I remember when they were very young, I used to say or think, like 'oh God, I would never have had a gift like this when I was a kid', or 'I never would’ve had this luxury of getting takeout', or whatever.

"Then I realised that that’s not really their bag of rocks to carry."

The dad-of-four had a very different upbringing. (Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)

The actor noted that his kids are very aware of what it means to be grateful, suggesting that he and Blake are doing an 'okay' job.

He added: "They’re already very much in touch with gratitude and understanding the world enough to have a strong sense of empathy.

"Those are the things that I would think [would indicate] we’re doing an OK job - if our kids can empathise with other people and other kids."

The dad-of-four reflected on his own 'blue collar' childhood, which he feels is very different from the way his kids have been raised.

He explained: "When I was a kid, you would just suck it up, get out of the house and be back by sundown, which I just can’t even imagine now."

The Deadpool actor also noted how complicated his relationship with his dad was growing up.

He said: "My dad was of that generation where he was Clint Eastwood. Simple grunts is how he communicated."

The 48-year-old actor lost his father in 2015 to a 20 year battle with Parkinson's disease.