Elton John has shared his top parenting tip after he revealed he was "filled with fear" as a child.
During an appearance on Heart FM over the weekend, the music legend was asked for parenting advice by radio hosts Mark Wright and Olly Murs, who both recently became fathers for the first time.
Elton, who raises two sons with his husband David Furnish, explained why he ruled out being a disciplinarian dad before starting a family.
"I was brought up in a very strict household in the '50s," he shared. "I grew up in fear of my mum and my dad and I said to David when we were having Zachary, I said: 'I never want my kids to grow up in fear. I never want them to be afraid of us.'"
Elton has previously explained how his "strict" parents Sheila and Stanley had unrealistically high expectations about his behaviour when he was growing up.
During his latest radio interview, the 78-year-old star insisted his nurturing parenting method has proved a huge success as he went on to express his love for his "fantastic" sons Zachary and Elijah.
"I was walking on eggshells the whole time in my childhood," Elton explained. "And it wasn't a bad childhood but the fear of doing something wrong and I said to David: 'That's it, they mustn't be filled with fear'."
He added: "Have discipline, of course, but no fear, no smacking, nothing. And it has worked beautifully, they have been fantastic."