Maths and English are essentials, of course, but for Home and Away star James Stewart, there’s one thing that’s even more important for his daughter to learn, he tells TV Week magazine in a new interview.

“Kindness is the big one we talk about,” James revealed. “If you think about it, everything stems from that. Honesty stems from that, friendship stems from that, being good to others stems from that – and being good to yourself too.

“Just like in the movie The Help [the 2011 film in which Viola Davis played a maid], we tell Scout, ‘You’re kind, you’re smart, you’re important.’ I just love that – that’s how Jess [Marais, James’ ex-partner] and I want our daughter to feel."

But the 42-year-old actor said it hasn’t been easy coming to terms with how quickly his five-year-old has grown up.

“Time has flown by,” he said. “I can’t believe Jess and I are already those parents standing at the school gate. That's a big thing. This is the first step of Scout's independence, and it absolutely kills me. I have to put on a brave face.

“It’s an emotional time,” James admitted. “You know what it is? It’s realising you can never always be there for them and that you just hope they make the right decisions in life.

“Right now, I’m making the right decisions for Scout. I’m doing everything for her – for example, if we’re at home and she grabs the wrong toothpaste or toothbrush, I’ll tell her.

“I know that sounds silly, but it's that guidance bit I’ll miss. Now, it’s not mine so much – that’s the hardest part.”

Nevertheless, James says becoming a dad was the best thing to ever happen to him. “It has brought me so much joy,” he gushed. “She is my world.”

Image credit: James Stewart/Instagram.