You know Drew Barrymore. She’s the girl who grew up in front of the whole world, from that wide-eyed kid in E.T. to the woman who now hosts the most high-energy talk show on daytime TV. But there is a part of her life that stays strictly behind a velvet rope. Honestly, if you try to find a clear photo of her kids on her Instagram, you’re gonna be scrolling for a while.
Drew Barrymore children are the center of her universe, but she treats their privacy like a state secret. It’s not just about being a "protective" mom; it’s a direct response to a childhood that, frankly, most of us can’t even imagine. She was in rehab at 12. She was emancipated at 14. When she became a mother, the script changed completely.
Meet Olive and Frankie: The Next Generation
Drew has two daughters with her ex-husband, art consultant Will Kopelman.
Olive Barrymore Kopelman is the eldest, born on September 26, 2012. As of early 2026, she’s 13 and just celebrated her Bat Mitzvah—a huge milestone that Drew actually talked about on her show. Olive is apparently the creative soul of the house. Drew has mentioned that Olive loves "tailoring" and has a real eye for fashion, even comparing her to the eccentric style icon Edie Beale.
Then there’s Frankie Barrymore Kopelman, born April 22, 2014. She’s 11 now. If Olive is the messy creative, Frankie is the organized one. Drew says she "marvels" at Frankie’s systems—everything has its place.
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They’re basically a tiny comedy duo. For Drew’s 50th birthday in early 2025, they designed separate cakes for her. Frankie’s was sweet and pink; Olive’s was a "bombastic rainbow" design. It’s those little glimpses that show how different their personalities are, even if we don't see their faces on every tabloid cover.
The "Doberman" Approach to Social Media
Drew doesn't mess around when it comes to the internet. She has famously called herself a "Doberman" regarding her kids' privacy.
Why the intensity?
Because Drew knows what happens when you get too much "access and excess" too early. She lived it. In late 2024, she shared a pretty vulnerable story about taking away Olive’s phone. She had given her one at 11 because "everyone had one," but after three months, she realized it was turning into a mess of toxic group texts and "high-stakes emotions."
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She didn't just take the phone; she printed out the texts. She handed her daughter a stack of paper to show her that digital words are permanent. It’s a move that felt a bit old-school, but coming from a woman who was a "washed-up tragedy" at 13, it makes total sense. She wants them to be kids, not "brands."
Co-Parenting Without the Drama
Divorce is usually messy. Drew has admitted that her 2016 split from Will Kopelman was "painful." It was her "worst fear" because she wanted that traditional family unit she never had.
But they’ve pulled off something pretty impressive.
They co-parent with a lot of love. Will is now married to Vogue editor Allie Michler, and Drew is actually friends with them. They even spend holidays together. Drew’s daughters became big sisters in 2023 when Will and Allie had a son, John Keats Kopelman. Instead of weird tension, it seems like they’ve just expanded the family.
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Parenting Rules in the Barrymore House
Drew has some pretty specific boundaries.
- She is not their "friend." She’s their parent. She says her own mother was more of a friend, which led to a lack of boundaries. She’s correcting that now.
- No acting yet. People ask her all the time if the girls will follow her into the business. Her answer? Not until they’re "north of 14 or 15" at the very least.
- The "Standard of Cleanliness" struggle. She’s admitted she has to remind herself not to expect a 12-year-old to have the cleaning standards of a 50-year-old woman.
Why This Matters
Most celebrity kids are used as accessories for "likes." Drew is doing the opposite. She’s giving Olive and Frankie the one thing she never had: a boring, private, normal childhood.
If you’re looking for ways to apply this "Barrymore Method" to your own parenting or digital life, here is how you can actually use these insights.
Practical Steps for Digital Boundaries:
- The "Paper Trail" Audit: If your kid is struggling with social media or texting, do what Drew did. Sit down and look at the "data" together. Showing them the volume of their digital footprint can be a reality check.
- Parent First, Friend Later: It’s tempting to be the "cool" parent, especially if you had a strict upbringing. But boundaries create safety. Don't be afraid to be the "villain" who says no to the phone or the app.
- Celebrate the Differences: If you have one "messy" kid and one "organized" kid, lean into it. Drew’s approach of letting them design their own birthday cakes for her is a great way to let them show their individuality without comparing them.
- The Delayed Entry: You don't have to ban tech forever, but you can "scaffold" it. Start with limited hours or "weekend only" phone use before going full-throttle.
Drew’s life is an open book on her talk show, but her daughters are the chapters she’s keeping for herself. It’s a protective, slightly "Doberman" style of love that seems to be working out just fine.