For Our Spouses and Raising Beautiful Happy Children:
"You are most capable and if you endeavour you will attain the highest degree." ~ 'Abdu'l-Baha says, "If a pupil is told that his intelligence is less than his fellow- pupils, it is a very great drawback and handicap to his progress. He must be encouraged to advance, by the statement, "You are most capable and if you endeavour you will attain the highest degree."
some favorite excerpts:
"...Every day at first light, ye gather the Bahá'í children together and teach them the communes and prayers. This is a most praiseworthy act, and bringeth joy to the children's hearts; that they should, at every morn, turn their faces toward the Kingdom and make mention of the Lord and praise His Name, and in the sweetest of voices, chant and recite."
"Beginning in childhood they must receive instruction. They cannot be taught through books. Many elementary sciences must be made clear to them in the nursery; they must learn in play, in amusement. Most ideas must be taught them through speech, not by book learning. One child must question the other concerning these things, and the other child must give the answer. In this way, they will make great progress. For example, mathematical problems must also be taught in the form of questions and answers. One of the children asks a question and the other must give the answer. Later on, the children will of their own accord speak with each other concerning these same subjects. The children who are at the head of the class must receive premiums. They must be encouraged and when any one of them shows good advancement, for the further development they must be praised and encouraged therein. Even so in God-like affairs, oral questions must be asked and the answers must be given orally. They must discuss with each other in this manner."