LaToya commends Michael for masking children

Michael Jackson's sister thinks he raised ''balanced'' kids because he masked them in public.

The late 'Thriller' hitmaker used to make Prince Michael, 15, Paris, 14, and 10-year-old Prince Michael II, who is known as Blanket, cover their faces when they went out in order to shield them from the spotlight and his sister LaToya thinks it was the right thing to do as it allowed them to experience normality when they were out without their famous father.

She told 'Access Hollywood': ''That is the reason why he would mask them, because when they would go out without him, they could do whatever they and they had a normal life, which is great.

''They got a chance to experience that. And they would go with the nanny , nobody knew who they were. But with him, he kept the mask on so people wouldn't recognise them or know and now they're very balanced kids, which is great.''

Though the children - who are now under the care of their grandmother Katherine Jackson - have appeared in public more since Michael died from acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009, LaToya admits she thinks they would still have been shielded if her brother was still alive.

She added: ''Truthfully, I think Michael would have kept them secluded still. That's just the way he was raising them... but my mother felt they needed to be unmasked and they needed to experience life for what it is.

''I just love them all. They're so great. He's done a great job and my mother's doing an incredible job with them.''

Paris - who is set to make her acting debut in 'Lundon's Bridge' - recently revealed she was always confused about wearing a mask in public, but now understands her father's reasoning.

She said: ''I was really confused. I didn't get why I was wearing a mask. I understand it now. My dad wanted us to be covered he wanted us to have a childhood.''