How To Fix Your Parents

Tatchell’s picture book takes a silly-but-serious approach to self-care.

Sometimes, a child is best equipped to put a smile on a parent’s face. In this whimsical volume, the author provides a dozen methods for children to cheer up their often stressed and overscheduled parents. Each is simple but effective, cleverly echoing advice that is perfect for kids, too. The first is to play a beloved game, the second is to take a nap together, and the third is to take a walk outside. These wholesome prompts for entertainment, rest, and real-life engagement are complemented by subsequent suggestions to practice gratitude, set healthy boundaries, and indulge in make-believe. Sometimes, all it takes to banish the “yuckies” is a little goofiness: “If there’s one skill that children share, / it’s letting sillies loose. / A silly dance or silly song, / or full-on SILLY GOOSE.” Limiting screentime, celebrating small victories, and, most importantly, telling your parents you love them are all easy, actionable healing practices that Tatchell recommends to her readers. The jaunty, Seuss-like rhymes of the text mirror the lightheartedness that the author encourages. Perko’s illustrations feature soft, calming tones but maintain the text’s playful spirit by including not only a parent and a child (who are depicted as white) engaging in each activity but also pairs of parent-and-child cats and dogs.

A loving guide for the whole family to preserve joy.