The Secret Spiritual World of Children

Rating:
Summary: useful and enjoyable
Review: As Joseph Chilton Pearce wrote in the foreword, this book is "extraordinary and magnificent"!

Dr. Hart sets the tone of the entire work with the closing statement of his introduction: "This book is offered as a prayer to help us nourish the spirit within our children and within ourselves." His skillful interweaving of the stories of spiritual leaders with the mystical experiences of children is not only masterful but also heartwarming. The compassion and love for the children he interviews is palpable, and engaging. Challenging concepts are explored in a way that is relevant, and his insights provide practical solutions for parents and educators.

The questions supplied for enhanced communication offer a practical format to foster the growth of children's' sense of independence by enhancing their innate ability for self-reflection. By discussing impressions and inviting clarification, adults can gain valuable insights while encouraging meaningful dialogue that leads to healthy relationships and continuous discovery.

An enjoyable and useful read for anyone who has or works with children.

Rating:
Summary: The Secret Spiritual World of Children
Review: I am so grateful that this book has been written.
It provides wonderful insight for parents, educators and even for children.
For those who need reassurance that there is more to life than meets the eye, that there is a spiritual world we may have forgotten about and for us all to have insight on how to be with, work with and live with our innate gifts and how to share them with others and not feel alone in the world.
Dr. Hart provides a hands-on approach for us to gain insight, learn and be involved.
For the lay person and accademia as well.
Thank you for this book Dr. Hart.
We welcome the next!


Rating:
Summary: Not as objective as I though it would be
Review: I was interested in reading a book about children spirituality that approaches the topic from a scientific (or at least analytic) point of view so I could make my own opinion. Tart's book is biased from the beginning: his goal is to convince the reader that child spiritual experiences are indeed similar to experiences of great mystics (Christ...). Though I have nothing personally about this hypothesis, Tart does not attempt to build his claim on well chosen details of child experiences. In contrast, child experiences are presented in a non-ordered way (or at least an order non explicit to the reader) so it is hard to make anything out of them. Also, Tart rarely quotes children. Instead he rephrases what he though they were saying.

The topic and the material (raw child experiences) is good, the writing and the organization of the book is horrible.


Rating:
Summary: Hey, world, read this book
Review: Once in a while an exceptional book comes along and you want to scream at the top of your lungs, "Hey, world, read this book - it will forever change the way your children are treated." Oh, if only I could make such a scream be heard.

"The Secret Spiritual World of Children" covers everything, not just dreams and visions, angels and fairies. It covers life, that pulsebeat within us that propels action, growth, societies and cultures - our history as humans on this very big world called Earth. Whatever you need to help you understand your children, speak with them, encourage them, help them - even practical and easy exercises and suggestions - all of this is lovingly tucked into this gem of a book. But Hart doesn't stop there. He goes on to speak to the child in all of us; and as he does, you will recognize yourself and your own childhood unveiled in a new way. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D., author of "The New Children and Near-Death Experiences" and "We Live Forever: The Real Truth about Dying."

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: This book has inspired me to listen more closely to the children in my life as well to my own inner knowing. As adults we can forget this source within us with all the external distractions in our lives. The stories Tobin Hart shares reminds us we all have the ability to listen from within.
There is so much wisdom in this book, from children and sages from the past, I cannot wait to re-read it to glean more. This work is not something to be measured or quantified from a cognitive perspective, but to be experienced,felt, and lived.


Rating:
Summary: A parents surprise.
Review: This book provided a multi-sensory experience that I was not expecting. Having both of my children now in their twenties, I thought this book would remind me of the precious times spent in awe of my childrens many moments of wonder. It did provide many memories but they were not all of the second-hand kind. Reading the first pages I was transported back to my own childhood. I was torn between devouring the entire book in one sitting or stopping to savor each delicous memory. I chose the latter and am so glad I did. Dr. Hart has proven to me that you are never too old to connect with your own spiritual innocence.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, wise, and inspiring book!
Review: This is a landmark book into a subject that has not been addressed sufficiently by mainstream psychology. Dr. Hart is an academic psychologist who has done an excellent job of researching and gathering a range of spiritual experiences that have occurred in the lives of ordinary children. It's very readable and the accounts are fascinating as well as remarkable in what they tell us about children and human potential. Anyone interested in psychology and spirituality should read this book.