The 38-year-old actress and designer

admitted she used to be quite strict about how much time her children Sparrow

James Midnight, 10, and Harlow Winter Kate, 12, spent on their devices but

since going into quarantine due to coronavirus, technology has been a lifeline

for her and her family.

Nicole told ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’:

“They’re in home school so they’re doing their Zooms. It’s weird, I spent

10 years preaching no screens and now they’ve become kind of a lifeline over here.

It’s literally the opposite of what I’ve been telling them. They’re doing

school but they’re also doing their extracurricular activities and they’re

communicating with their friends.”

Nicole also revealed that the devices are

important to allow Sparrow and Willow have some time away from Nicole and their

father, Joel Madden.

She explained: “They really need that

time. They need that time away — I’m sure a lot of moms feel like they need

time away from their kids too, but it’s true, a lot of time kids need time away

from us. They want to talk about other things, and I think they’re doing a

really great job.

“We are doing okay. I think there’s so

many waves of emotions. You don’t have to feel okay all the time, but the kids

are adjusting really well. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a 10- and

12-year-old right now and only being around adults and having adults talk about

one thing all day long.

“Big picture, we are healthy and we’re

home and that’s the most important thing you can do right now, stay home. We’re

home.”