Children's classes
Weekly classes that nurture qualities like honesty, kindness and generosity through stories, songs, prayers and play. Free, joyful, all welcome.
Free and open to all children regardless of family background. Parents are warmly invited to stay or to join the parallel adult circle.
Children's classes are a free, weekly hour for children — roughly ages 5 to 11 — to learn about virtues like truthfulness, kindness, courage and generosity through prayers, stories, songs, games and art.
The teachers are trained volunteers from the community. The classes are non-denominational in spirit: children of every background are welcome, and parents of every belief send their kids to them across Canada.
What to expect
First 5 minutes
Welcome and a song
Children settle in, greet each other, and sing a song they all know.
About 45 minutes
Prayer, story, virtue, art
A short prayer the children memorise over the term. A story (from the Bahá'í, Christian, Muslim or other traditions, depending on the lesson) that illustrates a virtue. Discussion at the children's level. Then drawing, crafts or a game tied to the virtue.
Last 10 minutes
Snack and pickup
A simple snack and tidy-up. Parents collect their children, and there's always time for a chat with the teachers.
Who comes
- Children roughly aged 5 to 11. Older or younger siblings are usually welcome too.
- Kids of every faith and none. Many classes have a mix of religious and non-religious families.
- Parents who want a free, gentle, character-building hour for their child each week.
What to do
- Pack a water bottle and any allergy-friendly snacks the host needs to know about.
- Let the teacher know about any allergies, accommodations, or sensitivities.
- Stay if your child is shy on the first day — it's perfectly normal.
- Ask for the term's virtue list so you can talk about it at home.
What you don't need to do
- No registration fee. Ever.
- Your child will not be asked to 'declare' or 'convert' to any faith.
- No academic testing or grading.
- No pressure to attend every week, though kids often want to.
A sample programme
Every gathering has its own rhythm — this is one realistic outline.
- 10:00 am
- Welcome circle and a familiar song
- 10:10 am
- Memorising a short prayer line by line
- 10:20 am
- A story about courage
- 10:30 am
- Group conversation: when have you been brave?
- 10:40 am
- An art activity drawing the story
- 10:55 am
- Snack, tidy-up and pickup
Origins & meaning
Bahá'ís consider the spiritual education of children to be one of the highest forms of community service. The classes draw on the Bahá'í writings about the noble nature of every child and on a global curriculum developed by the Ruhi Institute.
The materials emphasise universal virtues found in every spiritual tradition — honesty, generosity, justice, love — and the stories chosen reflect a wide range of cultures and faiths.
Frequently asked questions
What ages are children's classes for?+
Typically 5 to 11. Some communities run separate classes for younger and older children when there are enough kids.
Is my child going to be taught to be Bahá'í?+
No. The classes teach universal virtues — honesty, kindness, generosity — through stories drawn from many traditions. Bahá'í children's parents and non-Bahá'í parents both send their kids.
Does it cost anything?+
No. The classes are entirely free.
Who are the teachers?+
Trained volunteers from the local community — often parents themselves — who have completed Ruhi Book 3 on teaching children's classes.
Are the teachers screened?+
Bahá'í communities follow local child-protection practices, and most communities require background checks (Canadian Police Information Check or equivalent) for class teachers.
Can I stay during the class?+
Yes — parents are always welcome to stay, and many communities run a parallel adult devotional or study circle at the same time.
How long is each class?+
Usually one hour, weekly, during the school term.
My child has additional needs — can they attend?+
Yes. Speak to the teacher beforehand so they can prepare; the small class size usually makes accommodation straightforward.
Find one near you
The next upcoming children's classs across Canada.
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Your first visit — a small checklist
- Confirm the class day, time and location with the teacher
- Let the teacher know about allergies or sensitivities
- Pack a water bottle and a sun hat in summer
- Plan to stay for the first session if your child is new
Other kinds of gatherings
Junior youth group
Young people aged 11 to 14 meet weekly to read together, talk about the world they want to build, and carry out small acts of service in their neighbourhood.
Read the guide →
Devotional
A simple, prayerful hour where neighbours of every background read sacred writings, share music, and reflect together.
Read the guide →
Nineteen Day Feast
The heartbeat of Bahá'í community life: every nineteen days, the local Bahá'í community gathers for prayer, consultation, and fellowship.
Read the guide →