The Real Measure of Success: Why Children Stay With Us for Years

This week, I had one of those moments that gently reminds you exactly why you started.

I dropped into classes at Putney High and The Roche — two schools that will always be special to me, as they’re where Kidz4 first began. As Founder, I don’t always get to be on the mat teaching anymore, so stepping back into the classroom felt like coming home.

What truly delighted me was realising that some of the children I was teaching first joined us over three years ago. They’re taller now, more confident, more expressive — and still choosing to come back week after week.

Children don’t return to something for years unless it genuinely makes them feel good.

When you ask them why they keep coming back, their answers are beautifully simple:

“I like coming every week because it helps me feel calm and happy after a busy school day. We do different activities and I always feel better when I leave.”
— Pupil, aged 7

Our sessions are designed to be a safe, welcoming space where children can move their bodies, slow their minds and express themselves freely — without pressure or performance. It’s a place where they’re encouraged to try, explore and grow at their own pace.

Another child told me:

“Kidz4 is fun because you don’t have to be perfect. You can just try your best and be yourself. I feel really relaxed when we finish.”
— Pupil, aged 8

At Kidz4, we continually evolve our curriculum as children grow. What works for a 5-year-old looks very different for a 9-year-old, and we take great care to ensure our sessions develop alongside them — building confidence, resilience and healthy habits that last well beyond the mat.

One of our longer-standing pupils summed it up perfectly:

“I’ve been doing Kidz4 for a long time and it’s still my favourite club. I like that we do yoga, games and relaxing time. It makes me feel confident and proud of myself.”
— Pupil, aged 9

Standing in those halls this week, teaching children who’ve grown up with Kidz4, I felt incredibly proud — of our teachers, our programme, and the community we’ve built with schools and families.

Most of all, I felt grateful. Grateful that children still arrive with excitement. Grateful that parents continue to trust us. And grateful that something that started as a small idea has become a space children choose to return to, year after year.

To me, that is the greatest measure of success.