In India formal education of the child starts at 5+. In pre-independence days and during some years of post-independence also, children normally remained with their parents in the joint families before joining school. In modern times, however,  industrial development and growing influence of western civilization have affected the family system especially in the cities. Montessori, Kindergarten or convent Nursery schools have sprung up in towns and cities. Little kids have been deprived of  their tender childhood and heavy bags have broken their backs. Seeds of English way of life and conversation are sown at this very tender age. Vidya Bharati has  started 'Shishu Vatikas' in large number to protect the initial stage of children from getting vitiated with the virus of western culture. There is a psychological endeavour to reduce the weight of the bag and encourage play-way methods of inculcating Hindu ideology in the tiny-tots. Vidya Bharati 'Shishu Vatikas' reverberate with joyful sounds of children as they undertake various activities which impart education and Sanskars in a natural way.