How Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Approach Parenting Their Three Kids

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck at the Oscars on February 24, 2013; Jennifer Garner and her daughter Violet Affleck arrive at the White House state dinner on December 1, 2022.
Credit:

Jason Merritt/Getty; ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty

Key Facts

• Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were married from 2005 to 2018.
• The pair share three children: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.
• They have actively co-parented since their divorce.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s Hollywood romance dissolved in 2018, but their commitment to co-parenting remains steadfast. The couple, who married in 2005 and divorced in 2018, share three children: Violet Anne, Seraphina Rose, and Samuel.

The former actors split after a decade of marriage in 2015, finalizing their divorce three years later. Both have attempted to shield their children from the media spotlight, navigating the complexities of fame while striving to protect their family’s privacy.

In January 2022, Affleck expressed concerns about his children’s awareness of his public image. Reflecting on the impact of media scrutiny, he noted, “I got to a place where [the public perception] was so different from who I am that I just stopped reading and stopped caring… But then, as my kids got older and started seeing the Internet themselves, that’s the difficult part.”

Since their divorce, both Garner and Affleck have embraced new chapters in their lives. Garner has been in an on-and-off relationship with CEO John Miller since 2018, while Affleck married Jennifer Lopez for two years, with their divorce finalized in August 2024. Both actors continue to pursue their film careers, with Affleck’s recent project being the Netflix movie *The Rip*, which began streaming on January 16.

Their different perspectives on parenting shed light on how they are navigating life as their children transition into adolescence and adulthood.

Violet Anne Affleck, 20

Violet Affleck and Jennifer Garner.
Nathan Howard/Getty

Garner and Affleck welcomed Violet Anne into their family on December 1, 2005. A representative announced at the time, “Mother, father, and baby are doing great.” Violet shares her middle name “Anne” with her mother.

Throughout their parenting journey, Garner and Affleck aimed to keep their children away from excessive media attention, which proved challenging. In a March 2021 cover story for *The Hollywood Reporter*, Garner recounted experiences during Violet’s early childhood, highlighting the impact of paparazzi chasing them.

Violet once expressed her discomfort with the constant media presence, stating, “We didn’t ask for this. We don’t want these cameras, they’re scary.” These experiences led Garner to advocate for legislation that protects children from being photographed by paparazzi without consent.

Reflecting on their family dynamics, Garner recalled the anxiety generated by persistent media attention, saying, “Anywhere that we went it was a total circus.” She acknowledged that the paparazzi significantly impacted their children’s formative years, noting how families involved in sports events pleaded for privacy.

Violet Affleck and Jennifer Garner.
Paul Morigi/WireImage

Despite limited public exposure, Violet has made appearances at significant events, such as a State dinner at the White House in December 2022 and the Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s White Party alongside her father and Jennifer Lopez in July 2023. In July 2024, Violet stepped into advocacy, addressing the L.A. County Board of Supervisors on mask availability amid the ongoing pandemic.

She began her college journey at Yale University in the fall of 2024 and has continued her advocacy, speaking about the impacts of COVID at the United Nations in September 2025. Additionally, in May 2025, she authored a paper for Yale’s Global Health Review discussing her experiences amid recent wildfires in Los Angeles.

Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck, 17

Garner and Affleck welcomed their second child, Seraphina, on January 6, 2009. News of her name was announced a week later, with a representative confirming her identity exclusively to the media.

As Seraphina’s birth approached, their friend Bradley Cooper expressed confidence in their parenting abilities, stating, “She can certainly run a family. She will have no problems having two kids,” referring to Garner’s capabilities as both a mother and actress.

By 2012, Garner shared that Affleck thrived in his new parenting role. “He’s all about [tea parties],” she noted, highlighting his laid-back parenting style that elicited joy and imagination in their children.

Affleck later reflected on how fatherhood shifted his work-life balance, asserting, “Once I had kids, it became very obvious to me that the priority was time with them.” He acknowledged how supportive colleagues were in accommodating his need for family time.

Following their 2015 divorce announcement, which occurred when their children were ages 9, 6, and 3, they have managed to celebrate special occasions together, demonstrating a commitment to co-parenting. In 2018, they reunited to host a small birthday celebration for Seraphina, underscoring their focus on shared parenting responsibilities.

Samuel Affleck, 13

Ben Affleck and Samuel Garner Affleck.

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Samuel, the couple’s youngest child, was born on February 27, 2012. Affleck announced the arrival of their son via social media, sharing their joy with followers.

As Samuel grew, he inherited a love of baseball from his father, a devoted Red Sox fan. In 2019, Affleck spoke about coaching Samuel’s Little League team and how he made a concerted effort to attend every game.

He humorously recalled how he prioritized family-time over work engagements, even reshuffling a promotional tour to be present at a game. His dedication to coaching revealed his deep commitment to parenting.

Affleck also shared a comical moment when Samuel declared he wasn’t a Patriots fan. He took it upon himself to teach his child about Boston’s sports culture, creating an impressive Patriots-themed room for his son in an effort to instill tradition.

Despite navigating the challenges of public life, Samuel has participated in family outings, including a rare public appearance at a Boston Celtics game and NBA All-Star Weekend. Both father and son enjoy basketball, and Affleck is frequently seen supporting Samuel at games.

As Affleck commented on modern parenting, he remarked, “We want to help our children. We want them to succeed…the real challenge is to get out of the way and let them do it on their own.”