#INTERVIEW: In Conversation with Helen Farmer on Her New Children’s Book My Family’s Secret Superpowers

In a world where children are increasingly faced with pressures beyond their years, renowned author and broadcaster Helen Farmer has tapped into a beautifully simple yet profound way to help them navigate their emotions. Her latest children’s book, My Family’s Secret Superpowers, offers a gentle, heartwarming exploration of anxiety and emotional resilience, sharing with families the tools to help them embrace their vulnerabilities and face life's challenges with confidence. As a mother of two, Farmer knows firsthand the importance of fostering open conversations around mental health, and through her storytelling, she helps children—and parents alike—understand that it's okay to feel anxious, and there are ways to move through those feelings together. Helen opens up about the inspiration behind the book, the role of "secret superpowers" in emotional well-being, and how we can all empower the next generation to tackle life’s hurdles with resilience, compassion, and courage.Top of FormBottom of Form

Delna Mistry Anand: The concept of “secret superpowers” is such a fun and creative way to frame coping mechanisms. Do you have any personal experience that led you to want to write about dealing with anxiety that children face, in this way?

Helen Farmer:  To say I have a busy brain is an understatement, and that has definitely tipped into anxiety over the years, from the normal everyday spikes to times when I’ve sought advice for it. The mental health conversation has changed so much since I was a child, and it’s crucial that we have the language to explain how we feel. Sadly, anxiety levels in young people are only increasing, and by addressing it early through books, I hope we can normalize getting help if you need it or just talking about what’s going on in life. It would have been a huge help to me.

It’s so important that kids can name and understand their feelings and know that anxiety isn’t something to be ‘fixed’. In their wobbly moments, it’s really empowering for children to have some tools in their tool kit, to calm or regulate. And as adults we need those too!

Children’s mental health is indeed an important topic today. What kind of conversations do you hope the book will spark about mental health and well-being between parents and their children?

As a mother, I see my daughters navigate big moments and milestones – first days, concerts, being apart from us, and more, and I wanted them to understand that everyone feels worried or scared sometimes. Even grownups. Just because we’re parents or seemingly have it all together, everyone faces challenges and hurdles. What’s lovely about books it that characters create some distance, so you can say “What do you think Ruby is feeling?” “How would you react to that?” “Can you think of anything that would help” and it can lead to sharing ideas and experiences.

How do you see storytelling as a tool to address important topics for both children and parents?

I’ve always written, and am passionate about our daughters engaging in books, from chewing them as toddlers, to disappearing into them as tweens. They are such a powerful way to discuss tricky topics, demystify issues (such as working mums in my first children’s story) and ultimately solving problems. The honest truth is, I write for kids, but for parents too, and from a place of “What do I need as a mum? What do my girls need to hear?”

What would you say is the most important lesson you hope kids will take away from My Family’s Secret Superpowers?

That vulnerability is the most powerful way to connect. That masking your worries or feelings doesn’t make them go away, and having someone trusted to talk to, to untangle the knots, to offer up ideas and strategies is the best way through. And that sometimes you just need to count down 3, 2, 1 and do the hard thing.