Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children

Lovely to read. Even my husband loves it.

This book is probably not ideal if you take a mainstream approach to education and child rearing. You might still find some good ideas, but it is quite a different way of thinking.We ordered this book because were interested in an introduction to the Waldorf method of schooling/learning. There are lots of great ideas in here about activities for you and your children, how to create an environment that fosters creativity, the way that play shapes children's life and learning, etc. I really found some of the guidance helpful. However, we found as many challenges in the book as we did strengths.First, the Waldorf method of learning and teaching is pretty specific. The author writes as if there is a specific way that you SHOULD structure your child's world in order for him/her to learn and grow and, essentially, for him or her to turn out well. It isn't so much presented as ONE way of raising children, but the best way and one of the only ways in order for your children to turn out well. And it is very specific about things that just don't seem like that big of a deal: she goes on for pages about the sort of clothes that are best for children to wear. I mean, okay, of course you want your kids to have comfortable clothes, but the time spent on really specific things like this seems to be a bit much.Second, this book assumes that everyone must live in the country and have enough time and money to design very specific sorts of play environments for their children. There is a whole industry of buying specifically Waldorf toys and learning materials, which is the last thing we need: more specific, expensive things to buy. Also, if you live in an urban area - or, heaven forbid - a slum like so many children around the world - this book could make you feel like a bad parent because your kids don't have sand, water, hills, grasses, and bushes all put in a specific configuration. This raises a more general point that the book is pretty classist. It ASSUMES so much about the readers - time, energy, certain physical space, resources, etc. And it isn't as if this is just ONE WAY you CAN do things, but it is written as if this is THE WAY you need to do it so your kids turn out well.Also, we were pretty shocked to find that the book suggests that, as an alternative to "war games" you children can play "hunting games" or "Native American" games. We find it rather racist to suggest that children should play games based on an ethnicity or that "hunting games" (oh! let's kill the innocent animals and watch them bleed and die) are somehow a lot better for children than "war games."Anyway, I sound harder on this book that I mean to be. I guess we just discovered that Waldorf education is a very specific and regimented way of raising your kids if you follow it carefully and that it has some good ideas, but overall isn't exactly what we were looking for. Again, some good ideas, but overall the tone of the book was problematic for us.

I've been putting off reading this book for several years, as I didn't think it was an "essential" to read in my sporadic homeschooling journey. It languished in my amazon cart for quite a while, then once I purchased it I still put off reading it. Finally sat down to flip through this weekend and WOW. This book, while being very concise and easy to read, is an all-inclusive introduction to Waldorf ideas and includes tons of easy ways to implement them (in many cases, with lists in the margins for further reference--the lists in the margins are a great idea--it's a quick refresher as you flip).The most relatable part to me is the idea of structure/rhythm in everyday life--I can already see with my 6 year old son that having a loose structure makes for calmer and more productive days, but I struggle myself with putting routines into place. This book is very clear and helpful (I don't think we'll do everything, but a lot of the material would be very doable and has a lot of kid-appeal). Examples of morning routines, evening routines, and daily play times (plus the 'why' of outdoor play/indoor play/media time/etc) made it very easy to visualize how things will go.I particularly like the longer 'yearly' structure kinds of celebrations--her examples of a christmas celebration would proceed over 4 weeks leading up to christmas, but with a short weekly celebration (incorporating the four elements and lighting a candle each week on one special place). I know that small celebrations are sacred to children (the book also includes easter/birthdays/fall/harvest/etc), but, again, struggle myself with the "how" of it and tend to get overwhelmed and do nothing. What I most liked about this book is that it is very inspiring--reading it, I'm immediately thinking of how we could do many (most) of the activities.The section on reading to children is also very interesting--the author goes over what is most appropriate for each age (as children grow, they progress from nursery rhymes to nature stories to fairy tales to adventures) and touches on the importance of fairy tales and fables as modelling desirable qualities.This book would be a wonderful introduction to waldorf ideas for new parents or caregivers, and is a non-intimidating read (something that can't be said for all waldorf/montessori books). I'm already thinking of new parents who would love this as a gift; I only wish I'd read it years ago!Highly recommended, this is one of the best parenting/lifestyle books I have ever read.

This is a wonderful book. It makes you either want to be a child again (with parents who've read the book!) or be grateful to be a parent or grandparent of a young child so you can help to make their childhood more simple and beautiful for them - and for you.Thank you to the author for sharing what she has found to work, both with her own family and in her Kindergarten.

It is a fascinating book if you're interested in waldorf education. If you're not, it still hás some ideas useful for any parent!

A lovely book to learn about what a Waldorf inspired family life might look like. Full of useful and beautiful suggestions. I love this book.

Love this book!

Should be on the bedside table of most parents (enjoyable reading, informative and inspirational). I wished I came across it before.. but never too late ...