This week I caught up with Kelly Tarrant from Mindful Explorers, one of our brilliant members inside the Children’s Activity Business Club. Kelly’s business is all about helping children and families bring mindfulness into everyday life – and her story shows just how powerful it can be when you combine passion with persistence.

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From classroom teacher to mindful leader

“I’ve been a primary school teacher for a long time, and I was always interested in children’s wellbeing. I wanted them to have the whole experience at school, not just the normal curriculum. A headteacher gave me the chance to go on a mindfulness training day, and I absolutely loved it and it took over!”

“I ended up paying for my own training so I could share mindfulness across the school. Then, when I was on maternity leave with my second child, I thought, I really want to make this a big part of my life. That’s when I set up Mindful Explorers instead of going back into the classroom. I started with in-person classes, and now I also run online sessions too.”

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What happens inside a session

Kelly explained that every session follows a rhythm.

“We start with a story, then link it to a craft or creative activity – it might be about gratitude, or big feelings and how to deal with them. I use props too, like our monkey mind, which helps children understand the difference between dwelling on the past or future and being in the present.

“We do breathing practices, play games, have a calm zone with books, and finish with meditation. The rhythm gives children something they can rely on each week.”

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Why children need mindfulness

Kelly’s seen first-hand how children benefit from these tools.

“Schools are under so much pressure. They want to support children, but often don’t have the capacity. My classes give children strategies they can actually use. For example, I’ve supported Year 6s around SATs, helping them feel calmer and more ready to face things.”

“Children’s mental health has been in the news a lot, and waiting lists for extra support are long. I just want to be part of helping children feel better.”

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Building visibility

I loved hearing how Kelly is stepping up her visibility, from speaking at conferences to taking part in online summits.

“I’m doing an online conference with the wonderful Abby Clarke, which I’m so excited about. And I’ll be at a wellbeing festival in Cambridge soon too. It’s about sharing what I do and getting the message out there. I feel so lucky I get to do this and support families and schools.”

Getting visible is exactly what will help Kelly’s work reach more families and schools. It’s not just about running local classes – it’s about championing a movement that children everywhere can benefit from.

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Life as a Business Club member

Kelly joined the Children’s Activity Business Club around a year and a half ago, after taking part in Market Like a Pop Star.

“The first thing was the knowledge. Before I joined, I didn’t really know what I should be doing. Through the training, I had that focus – I knew what to do as a small business owner, and it moved me up a level.

The second thing is the community. It’s wonderful. You can post something and know you’ll get a reply, not just from you (Krissy) but from other members too. Even if something hasn’t gone quite right, you get support straight away. That’s so lovely.”

I always say everyone comes to the Business Club with their own mission – and together, we grow as a collective. For Kelly, it’s been about getting visible, taking up opportunities, and building her confidence to champion mindfulness more widely.

“It’s inspiring to see what others are doing and wondering how that can apply to my business.”

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The reality of running a different kind of class

Kelly’s honest that running mindful activities hasn’t always been easy.

“Getting bookings for in-person classes has been a struggle. Lots of people say it’s a great idea, it’s so needed, but getting them to commit has been harder. I’ve had to really think about who I’m speaking to and how I can support them.

“That’s where the Business Club has helped – it’s given me clarity about my message, confidence to keep going, and the push to adapt. For example, I’ve added online resources and a membership where families can dip in without pressure. Mindfulness can be gently weaved in.”

That’s the thing about business – it isn’t always straightforward. You’ve got to be willing to try, adapt, and keep going. And Kelly’s done exactly that.

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Facing the fears of time and money

A lot of providers worry about time and money when they think about joining the Business Club. I asked Kelly what she’d say to those people.

“I was in that situation – not making enough in the business, and wondering if I could justify the investment. But I’m so pleased I did, because it gave me clarity right from the start. A year ago, I wouldn’t have imagined speaking at summits, let alone doing interviews like this.

“If money is a struggle, I’d still recommend finding a way to do it. You get so much out of it. It’s worth investing in yourself – props are great, but it’s the knowledge and support that actually grow your business.”

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What’s next for Mindful Explorers

Looking ahead, Kelly is expanding her work with both children and adults.

“I’ve started running mindful parenting sessions and supporting adults who work with children too. My goal is to spread the joy of mindfulness as far as possible – to families, schools, and other small business owners.

“I feel so passionate about it, and so lucky to be able to do this.”

Kelly’s story shows what’s possible when you stick with your mission, adapt as you go, and surround yourself with the right support.

Inside the Children’s Activity Business Club, you’ll find the training, community, and accountability to do the same. Ready to take your next step?