Children are not vessels to be filled, but lamps to be lit – Swami Chinmayananda

Children are the major focus at Chinmaya Mission Boston. The goal of the Bala Vihar program is to “wake up the sleeping giant” within and inspire them to reach their maximum potential. This is achieved by imparting a value-based education through a specially designed, age appropriate curriculum that has been carefully developed by expert Chinmaya Acharyas. Through inspiring stories, projects, role-playing, and songs, a child’s mind is awakened to the higher. “Why We Do What We Do” is a recurring theme throughout the curriculum.
The children are taught by a team of specially trained and dedicated volunteer teachers.

The curriculum designed for each grade level (from pre-school to Grade 12) covers a wide range of topics such as:

Topic	Grade Level
Shishu Vihar	Pre-School
One God, Many Forms; We Can, We Must!	Pre-K
Alphabet Safari - a safari of values	Kindergarten
Bala Ramayana	Grade 1
Sri Hanuman, the Super Superman!	Grade 2
Bala Bhagavatam -	Grade 3
Krishna Krishna Everywhere & My 24 Gurus	Grade 4
Symbolism in Hinduism	Grade 5
India, the Sacred Land	Grade 6
P.O. Box Mr. God & Keys to Success	Grade 7
Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah! (Where there is Dharma, there is Victory)	Grade 8
Hindu Culture	Grade 9
Gita for Me	Grade 10 & 11
Self-Unfoldment	Grade 12

Teenagers in high school transition to an introduction to Hindu Culture where the foundation is laid for studying the Bhagavad Gita and other texts. The classes provide a forum to discuss, debate and understand the wisdom in the Gita and designed to stimulate independent thinking and increase the awareness of the inherent potential within each individual.
High school students are encouraged to volunteer in community and social service activities with the goal of preparing today’s youth to be responsible and successful adults of tomorrow.