Ron Howard Says ‘Rules Do Not Apply’ at His House for Grandkids (Exclusive)

Ron Howard and his wife Cheryl Howard are definitely the fun grandparents.

The actor-turned-director, 71, spoke with PEOPLE at the YES Scholars 25th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, Sept. 4, at a private event in Los Angeles, Calif., where he shared that he and his wife have become very doting grandparents.

“My wife Cheryl, who was always kind of a tough mom, kind of a disciplinarian, has gone into full grandma mode,” Ron admits. ” ‘Come on over here! I don’t care what your diet is supposed to be! I don’t care what time you’re supposed to go to bed!’ Rules do not apply.”

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Ron said that his kids were “a little surprised” to see their mom become more relaxed, and joked they were asking, “Where was that when I was 8 years old?”

However, the Emmy nominee has been enjoying spending time with his family and showing them his work from over the years.

“They run quite the gamut. We got a couple of teenagers already as grandparents, and then some 5 and 6 year olds,” he said. “So some of them are just discovering The Grinch. Other ones are getting old enough to check out Ransom and Frost/Nixon.”

Ron and his wife Cheryl are parents to four. Their daughter Bryce Dallas Howard, 44, is mom to son Theodore Norman and daughter Beatrice Jean, whom she shares with husband, Seth Gabel. Cheryl and Ron are also parents to twin daughters Paige Carlyle Howard, 40, and Jocelyn Carlyle Howard, 40, who is mom to kids Quinn, Sawyer and Elodie.

The couple also shares son Reed Cross Howard, who is dad to daughter Aspen Leigh Howard, whom he shares with his wife Ashley.

In April 2020, Bryce announced the birth of her niece Elodie Vivian — Ron and Cheryl’s sixth grandchild — on X.

“The 6th Howard grandbaby is born and I’m already thinking of dressing her up as Baby Yoda,” she wrote, referencing her show The Mandalorian. “Welcome to the Howard family Elodie Vivian. Theodore Norman, Beatrice Jean, Quinn Everett, Sawyer William, and Aspen Leigh welcome you home.”