Say what you will about Gordon Ramsay, there's reason behind his parenting techniques.

When it comes to being father of the year, foul-mouthed TV chef Gordon Ramsay might not be the first name that springs to mind. But maybe it should be.

Ramsay sparked off a media frenzy earlier this year when he said he didn’t let his children fly first class with him. He shared that he made his four kids sit in economy, while he and wife Tana sat up front.

Now Ramsay has defended his comments, saying he has to “keep it real” with the kids.

“Also, I think just getting kids at the age of five, six and seven used to first class and those big seats, they do not need the space, they get entertainment on their iPads,” he tells The Mirror.

“So I like to think about what you can do with the money when you land, rather than paying out thousands of dollars for eight-, nine-, 10-year-olds to sit in first class.

“I do not want them sat there with a 10-course f—ing menu with champagne.”

Well, okay. So he’s going a bit far by suggesting five-year-olds should sit on their own while their parents glug champagne up the front. But the essence of what he’s saying is true.

Gourmet food and spacious seats are wasted on little kids, who would rather just eat biscuits from little packets and repeatedly flush the airplane toilet. And why get your kids used to luxury when they’re little? The rest of their lives could end up being a nasty shock.

The truth is, Ramsay has thought long and hard about the way he brings up his kids Megan, 18, Jack and Holly, 17, and Matilda, 15.

Listen: This Glorious Mess talks to the mum who hands out $100 bills for odd jobs. Post continues…

Ramsay makes his kids do housework and look after pets. He makes them earn their pocket money, and, when they’re old enough, he makes them get a job. Megan babysits, while Holly works part-time in a shop. They also do voluntary work for charities.

Growing up with very little is the worst. But growing up with too much isn’t great for kids either. There are so many tales of rich kids gone wrong – living meaningless lives, lost to drug addiction, or just being painful twats.

Ramsay doesn’t want his kids to be like that, and that’s fantastic. More rich parents should follow his example.

As well, Ramsay has made it clear that he isn’t going to leave his $50 million fortune to his kids.

Ramsay doesn’t want his kids to be like that, and that’s fantastic. More rich parents should follow his example.

As well, Ramsay has made it clear that he isn’t going to leave his $50 million fortune to his kids.

“It’s definitely not going to them,” he tells The Telegraph. “And that’s not in a mean way, it’s to not spoil them. The only thing I’ve agreed with Tana is they get a 25 per cent deposit on a flat, but not the whole flat.”

Good on him.

As it is, being the child of Gordon Ramsay is going to open up plenty of doors for those kids (Matilda already has her own cooking show, Matilda And The Ramsay Bunch, which she clearly didn’t land on her sparkling personality alone). They don’t need bucketloads of cash as well.

Ramsay’s got the right idea here. A lot of satisfaction in life comes from working for something and then getting it, whether that’s doing chores for pocket money to buy toys, or slaving nine-to-five to pay off your own flat.

Ramsay, who grew up in a working-class family, has pointed out that you appreciate first-class luxury more “when you’ve grafted for it”. True.

I can’t totally get with him on the airplane travel. I can’t imagine being separated from my kids on a flight, especially if they were as young as five. I would rather sit with them in economy than enjoy the comforts of first class on my own.

But with his general parenting philosophy? F*cking spot-on.

Do you agree with Ramsey's philosophy? Should well-off parents keep the silver spoon out of their children's mouths?