Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for
Parents of Young Children by Sharifa
Oppenheimer
Incredible Gift!
As we witness the shifting of old forms that once stood as the foundation of
our daily lives, parents—who must prepare the next generation to meet
this changing world—have more questions now than ever before. Although
our culture and the nature of the family may be changing, the atmosphere
in the home continues to create the foundation of a child’s life. In Heaven
on Earth, parent and educator Sharifa Oppenheimer reveals how to make
the home environment warm, lively, loving, and consistent with your
highest ideals. Heaven on Earth balances theoretical understanding of
child development with practical ideas, resources, and tips that can
transform family life. Readers will learn how to establish the life rhythms
that lay the foundation for all learning; how to design indoor play
environments that allow children the broadest skills development; and how
to create backyard play spaces that encourage vigorous movement and a

wide sensory palette. Through art, storytelling, and the festival
celebrations, this book is a guide to build a family culture based on the
guiding principle of love. Such a culture supports children and allows the
free development of each unique soul. Responding to parents’ questions
from more than twenty years of teaching, Oppenheimer has created a gift
from the heart. This is a practical, inspiring resource that brings her
informed, intuitive understanding of young children into the heart of the
home.
Personal Review: Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of
Young Children by Sharifa Oppenheimer
This book is a wonderful resource to own if you are a parent of young
children, a nanny or preschool teacher, or a grandparent. I wish that I had
had this book when my own children were small. Not only does it share
developmental understanding about children, it gives actual activities with
enough examples for the caregiver to implement. I was a preschool
teacher and nanny for many years, and I am even familiar with many of the
Waldorf ideas, but this book really makes the whole experience accessible!
I learned so much!
I love the notes in the margins to help find information quickly, or as a
reminder once you have read the book. It is a book that I could see going
back to over and over. One of the ideas that I loved was the one about
helping children through problems. Instead of telling them what to do, or
talking about it with them, tell them a story using their toy animals and
such, letting the protagonist animal have their same issue. That way they
can see their own issue dramatized and they can take it in so much easier
and with less stress. No lecturing...just a story. How's that for a great
idea? (I know the Native Americans often problem solve with stories, but I
could never figure out how to do it "naturally." Now I know!) And that's just
ONE of the ideas.
The book also gives ideas for the day to day rhythms of family life,
seasonal celebrations and birthdays. It reignited my respect for the magical
essence of young children, and my passion to help them flourish!
This book is a keeper.
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