Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are one of the biggest celebrity couples in the entertainment world. And while there’s no doubt that they are household names, there are very few things that their fans know about their family and their personal life behind closed doors.

If there is one thing that Chris is staunchly protective of, it’s his family. One of the reasons why he and Elsa Pataky decided to leave Hollywood is because he wanted his children to have the same kind of childhood that he had. He’s always said that he wants them to be in touch with nature, to be outdoors as much as possible and of course, to be near family.

With that being said, here are 20 different ways that Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky like to raise their family at home. From the looks of it, they not only prefer to do things the Aussie way, but have a very casual and low-key approach to their lifestyle. In other words, they want to keep their family far away from the glitz and glamour that comes with the Hollywood package. Take a look at our list below and let us know what you think in our comments section.

20 Chris Takes His Hero Role Seriously

It’s without a doubt that when Chris wants to do something, not only does he put his mind to it, but his entire heart and soul as well. For a lot of people, it’s pretty evident, especially in his work. Chris is the kind of person who puts 100 percent of his energy into a role and when it comes to parenthood, he’s no different. In other words, he’s a hero both on and off screen, and especially to his three children at home. Could you imagine having a dad that everything thinks is the real life Thor? Talk about some very lucky kiddos!

19 They Do Things The Aussie Way

Chris insists that his family is raised the ‘Aussie’ way, so to speak. In other words, they turn off their electronic devices. They go outside. They connect with nature. They take surfing lessons. And yes, they spend as much time as possible exploring, hiking, and learning new things as a family. And for Chris Hemsworth, he wouldn’t want it any other way. Thankfully his wife Elsa Pataky has adapted to this lifestyle, as she sees just how beneficial it is for their kids. Life Down Under might not be for everyone, but so far the Hemsworth family is making it work.

18 They Work Out With Their Kids

The family that works out together, stays together, right? Well, that’s what Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are probably hoping as they often work out with their three kids. As a matter of fact, staying in shape and eating balanced, healthy meals is very important for their family. As an action star, it’s part of Chris’s job to always look camera ready. Elsa, meanwhile, has been a fitness enthusiast for years and even has a huge social media following online. We wouldn’t be surprised if they spent just as much time in the gym as they do at home.

17 They Have A Parenting Pact

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky have a very important parenting pact. Because they don’t employ a nanny at home, one of them has to be with the kids if the other one is working on a film or project. In other words, someone has always got to be with the kids and they can’t both work at the same time. So far, this parenting pact seems to be working for them. Elsa told Australia’s Today Show, “I think it is important for us, for one of us to be there. I don’t think I’d be able to work if Chris didn’t have the time to be with them. He’s such a good dad.”

16 Both Chris And Elsa Love To Share On Social Media

While a lot of celebrities like to shy away from social media, Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky like to share behind the scenes photos or footage with their fans. This way, they hope, it keeps the photographers and paparazzi at bay. But with that being said, they are very careful with what they choose to show their fans. Even though they sometimes show the kids in their feeds, they are very careful not to show their faces or reveal too much about their identities. For Chris and Elsa, their family’s privacy is very important. In other words, it’s called strategic social media sharing.

15 Saying No To Projects

As mentioned above, Chris and Elsa’s parenting pact helps them with the everyday hustle that comes with trying to juggle your work life and your family life at home. But it’s not always easy. For example, Elsa can’t do all of the things that she would love to do, as her three kids at home take up so much of her time, energy and attention. Previous reports indicated that Elsa wanted to be a member of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast. Unfortunately, Chris supposedly didn’t think it was a good idea as he didn’t want their family life exposed in front of the reality television cameras.

14 Family Always Comes First

It doesn’t matter where they are, what they are doing, or who they are with for that matter: Family always comes first for Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky. This might be one of the reasons why they have managed to make their marriage work so well for them. There aren’t a lot of working actors or actresses that can afford to say no to lucrative projects or opportunities, but if it doesn’t fit the bill, Chris and Elsa simply say no. In other words, they know what their priorities are. Their kids need them the most right now, especially at their young ages.

13 The Kids Are Used To ‘Set Life’

More often than not, Chris and Elsa’s children hang out with their parents on their movie sets. As a matter of fact, both Chris and Elsa love to share photos of their adorable kiddos pretending to be big screen superheroes, just like their famous father. We can only imagine how exciting it must be for them to be able to live the ‘set life’ and to see all of the amazing and one-of-a-kind props that comes with the movie magic business. Chris and Elsa love showing their kids that this is what they do for a paycheck. Talk about great childhood memories, right?

12 Chris Is A Very Hands-On Father

As mentioned above, Chris is a very hands-on father. Even though the Hemsworth family has a nanny that they can rely on at all times, he prefers to do most of the work on his own, especially when it comes to handling their kids. Needless to say, you just don’t see that with a lot of the other celebrity dads out there. Chris loves being a parent and most of all, he loves having a family. It’s without a doubt that Elsa probably considers herself to be a very lucky gal – men like Chris Hemsworth don’t come around very often!

11 They Travel As A Team

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky has made it no secret that they often travel as a team. That means both mom and dad are there to help with the kids and especially on long haul flights. And seeing how they have to commute from Australia to Hollywood several times a year, it sure does help when you’ve got both parents on board. According to Elsa, no one is complaining. They love their life in Australia and don’t mind the extra trips. “We love it. We live there now and it’s a long trip, but I think it’s a different life for our kids that we decided is the best for them,” Elsa has said.

10 They Teach Life Lessons At Home

Just last year Chris Hemsworth posted a clip of his young son attempting to reach a jar of chocolates that was placed at the very top of the kitchen fridge. He wanted to teach his kids that if you want something bad enough, you have to learn how to obtain it on your own. In other words, he is trying to teach his kids life lessons at home. And yes, the lesson worked as his son managed to climb up the fridge (and show off his impressive upper body strength) for the prize that was waiting for him at the top. Hey, when your father is Thor, anything is possible!

9 Starting A Family As Young Parents

Chris and Elsa don’t pretend to be perfect. They’ve got their flaws just like so many other couples out there. As a matter of fact, Elsa admits that it was a challenge for her during the first several years of their marriage. That’s because Chris was not only a young father, but he was also at the height of his stardom, which meant he wasn’t always at home. "I think any time you start a family without knowing each other that much, it can be complicated… He was very young to be a starting a family, and at the same time he was juggling his [work] and it was sometimes difficult, there was so much going on.”

8 Chris And Elsa's Ups And Downs

Let’s face it: a lot of marriages go through the same ups and downs and with Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky, they are no different. A lot of people might expect them to be ‘perfect’ but that’s just not the case behind closed doors. As a matter of fact, photographers once caught Elsa chastising Chris during a family day out at a park with their kids. By their body language and movements, you could tell that the moment was tense. But they managed to resolve the issue pretty quickly and focused on the kids. We’ve all had similar moments with our spouses, haven’t we?

7 Chris Gets His Nails Painted

Chris Hemsworth might look like he’s a “man’s man,” but that won’t stop him from getting his nails painted from time to time. As a matter of fact, it might be the reason why so many of his female fans continue to swoon at the sight of him. He’s not afraid of anything, including a little sparkly pink on his nails! On why he let his brother Liam paint his toenails, Chris told Jimmy Fallon on his talk show, “My daughter and my nieces paint everybody’s nails, so I actually had my nails painted as well around Christmas time.”

6 Chris Doesn’t Like The Hollywood Life

Chris Hemsworth is a huge A-lister in the entertainment world, but he is no fan of the Hollywood lifestyle. Simply put, it just didn’t work out for him and his family. They didn’t appreciate the fact that there are photographers lurking at every corner in Santa Monica and beyond and that’s why they decided to leave. Chris told The Daily Telegraph, “We were living in California, and it just wasn’t conducive for the lifestyle that we wanted with kids. Los Angeles is tricky to get around, there’s paparazzi to deal with, and I had this feeling that I just wanted to move back to Australia.”

5 Elsa’s Work Is On Hold For Her Family

Elsa admits that she put her work on hold for her family. "It's interesting how you can be a successful woman who has been working her whole life, and then you have kids and suddenly your [profession] isn't as important and you don't appreciate it as much, and you just think, 'What am I doing? I have been fighting all my life for this and now I don't know if I really want it?'" she said. "It's unfair in a way, because I don't think men go through that. But when you become a mum, everything that was important goes into second position.”

4 There’s No Distance Between Them

Another reason why Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky has managed to make their family life and their marriage work is because there is no distance between them. They share all the little details of their day each and every night. Chris is an honorable, family man, and that is one of the reasons why Elsa fell so hard in love with him. And while trying to maintain your marriage in the spotlight is no walk in the park, these two have enough strength and determination to make their love happen. They’ve got each other’s backs, and that’s what matters the most.

3 They're Not Afraid Of Challenges

Another life lesson they teach their children is to not be afraid of life’s challenges. Both Chris and Elsa are testament to how they’ve managed to rise above the occasion whenever they were faced with difficulties of their own. And one of those difficulties was having a long-distance relationship and having to sacrifice their own goals for their family. Speaking about the impact his work had on their marriage, Chris says that it wasn’t always easy. "My wife and I fell in love, had kids, didn't really see each other for a few years, then fell back in love," he said. "In terms of work, (Elsa has) certainly given up more than I have."

2 They Don’t Pay Attention To The Media

If there is one thing that Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are very good at doing, it’s not paying attention to what the media has to say about them or their family life for that matter. Sure, they understand that they are Hollywood stars that are in the celebrity spotlight, but that is also one of the reasons why Chris insisted on moving their family to Australia. He wants their children to have the most normal life possible and that wouldn’t happen if they were still in Los Angeles. This way they have plenty of distance – and thousands of miles – away from the Hollywood bubble.

1 Number One Rule: Don’t Be Self-Centered

One of the biggest rules in the Hemsworth house is that you can’t expect to put yourself first. Everyone works as a team, or a unit. Chris has made it clear that if there is one thing that he and Elsa want to their children, it’s that they shouldn’t be self-centered. What’s more, Chris tries to be a good role model for them. On putting his children first, Chris told The Daily Telegraph, “I had been very selfish for a really long time. And it’s refreshing for me that my focus and my motivations are about someone else and not my own selfish needs.”

Source: The Richest, People, Us Weekly, Hello Magazine, Variety