Matthew McConaughey spills parenting trick to get his teens to talk without feeling judged

Matthew McConaughey knows how to make his teenage kids have deeper talks with him.

During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the Interstellar star revealed a question that made his daughter talk longer.

Matthew shared, "'Hey, Vida — my daughter — what's it like being a teenager these days?' Instead of 'Vida, how are you doing?' which is a tough one to answer, right?"

The proud dad admitted that the first question allowed his daughter to talk more personally about herself "for a long time" rather than the second one.

He explained, "Now they're talking in the third person, but they're talking about themselves and their own experience."

Matthew, who shares Levi, Vida, and Livingston with his wife Camila Alves McConaughey, also noted that while talking to teenagers, he also has to be careful how he reacts to what they share.

"I've had to be almost less of a dad in ways — be less judgmental when they're saying something," the dad of three said.

And instead of bombarding them with questions, he holds them back and listens to his kids with full attention.

"Then, they keep sharing that stuff. And I'd rather know and not judge right now, than not know and wonder what the hell I'm supposed to judge about on some things."

Matthew remarked that teenage years are crucial for solidifying bonds with kids and he himself adopted the role of a "big brother" who shares his own mistakes with kids too.

"That's a little of that pat on the back like, 'Hey man, I know what you're talking about. Let me tell you the story about what I did,'" he added.