Bahá’ís see children as the most precious treasure a community can possess. They hold promise and guarantee of the future. Yet, in order for this promise to be realized, children need to receive spiritual guidance. In a world where the joy and innocence of childhood can be so easily overwhelmed by the aggressive pursuit of materialistic ends, the moral and spiritual education of children assumes vital importance.
Bahá’í children’s classes are for all of the community’s children. They provide the early seeds of moral and spiritual education and introduce the idea of equality of all people at an early age. They help children discover and strengthen their inherent spiritual qualities like kindness, patience and generosity through stories, songs, prayers and art.
“O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden. Let Thy rain fall upon them; let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost beauty.”
— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The Oneness of humanity and the spiritual nature of every human being are the foundational themes for all children’s classes. Guidance to refine the initiate capacities of truthfulness, generosity, purity of heart, and kindness, to name a few—which are attributes of God that are reflected in every human heart. Year after year, the materials build on the understanding of these qualities and add lessons related to the history and the Writings of the Bahá’í Faith.
The goal is for the children to develop both a good character and a spirit of service to their community.