Tika Sumpter Reveals Her One Parenting Rule for Raising 7-Year-Old Daughter Ella (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Tika Sumpter.Photo:Michael Tullberg/Getty

Michael Tullberg/Getty

Tika Sumpter’s parenting style is a mix of new-age and old-school philosophies.

With candy, “I’m like, let her have it,” she says of 7-year-olddaughter Ella-Loren, who she shares withhusband Nicholas James. “If it’s not hurting her and we don’t feed her like that all the time, let her enjoy it, who cares?”

TheKnucklesstar, 44, tells PEOPLE sweets aren’t the only thing Ella’s into these days. Her little one is now the inspiration behind Sumpter’s new podcastAdventures of Curiosity Cove, which debuts Sept. 9 on all podcast platforms.

Adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast.Courtesy Tika Sumpter

Courtesy Tika Sumpter

And as a mom, she says good listening is her top must-do. “The one thing I always try to do as a parent is actively listen to her when she has something to say,” she says. “Talking over her sometimes feels like what I have to say is way more important.”

Nicholas James, Tika Sumpter and daughter Ella.Courtesy Tika Sumpter

But she makes sure to hear Ella out, “so she knows that she can trust me always. I just think it’s important to listen to your child and to hear them and let them know that somebody is listening.”

Sumpter is a bit more traditional when it comes to her thoughts onhowher daughter should speak to her. “There’s no talking back, like when she’s being the smart aleck,” says the star. “I’m like ‘Girl, no. Who are you talking to?’ She’s also funny and will make me laugh and I have to stop myself. But yea, that’s the one thing I don’t put up with.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Tika Sumpter and daughter Ella.Courtesy Tika Sumpter

That said, Ella’s going to be putting her voice to use on the new podcast, though not too much. “She’s a very shy girl,” says Sumpter, who named the main character of one of the show’s segments after Ella. “If you listen to the very end, you can hear her say, ‘This is a Fort Sumpter production’. Her voice is so great.”

source: people.com