The Bal Bhavan Society is an outcome of the inspiration generated by the International Year of the Child 1979. Enthused by the unparalleled focus on the plight of children everywhere, some of the leading citizens of Baroda came together to establish a long term project for children. A survey revealed that the largest lacuna in children's services in the city was an astonishing dearth of recreational and non-formal services for all children and especially for children belonging to the underprivileged section in the school going age group. Thus the seed of Bal Bhavan Society was sown and was registered in 1980 under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and Bombay Public Trusts Act 1950.

Today, it is a recreational-educational institution for all children with a definite identity, , serving an ever increasing number of children in the age group of 5-16 years and offering multifaceted programmes , activities and sports to over 18,000 children every year. From the children's response it has become obvious that our children need recreational educational outlets, which can be provided through institutions where they can pursue an activity according to their interest, capability and choice, where they can learn to do things for the fun of doing it, where the spirit of play, love of adventure and pleasure of following one's own inclinations dominates their activity.