Turtles, pizza dough and a million questions: inside the JOALI BEING kids club
Pippa, B'Kidult manager and marine biologist, in conversation. Karl Stevenson, Founder, The Kids Club Collection. November 2026. 8 min read.
JOALI BEING initially opened as an adults-only, dedicated wellbeing island and has since evolved to offer well-living experiences for guests of all ages, including a specially curated wellbeing menu for children. The introduction of B'Kidult has further enriched the island's offerings for families and younger guests. Pippa, who runs B'Kidult, explains what a child's week looks like when the whole island is the kids club.
JOALI BEING offers a distinctive approach to family well-living in the Maldives. It opened in 2021 as the country's first dedicated wellbeing island, built around four pillars it calls Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy. Guests come for the spa, the movement studio, the herbal garden and the Culinary Learning Centre.
In December 2023, the resort opened B'Kidult. It is a kids club with an indoor room, an outdoor area, its own pool and a thatched pavilion, open from 9am to 7pm every day. Kids' activities run for ages 4 to 11, teenagers have a calendar of their own from 12, and under-4s are welcome with a parent or babysitter. But the resort is careful not to call it a children's zone. Its own phrase is a multi-generational playground, and the philosophy is to invite children to discover and experience the island alongside their parents.
The person who makes that work is Pippa. Philippa Darbyshire-Jenkins joined JOALI BEING in 2024 as the resort's marine biologist. She now runs both the Okyanus Marine Biology Centre and B'Kidult, which is an unusual pairing for a kids club manager and explains a great deal about how the club feels.
"It has been such a rewarding journey, allowing me to bring together my passion for marine life, education, creativity and creating memorable experiences for our guests."
Asked what makes her smile about the job, she does not talk about the reef. "What makes me smile most about both departments is undoubtedly my team. I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside such amazing, passionate and dedicated people. Their enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to go above and beyond make every day special."
This conversation took place in November 2026. Pippa answered twelve questions in writing.
How does B'Kidult bring the Joy of Well-Living to younger guests?
**Six venues | Same chefs and artists as the adults | One weekly calendar**
Making sushi together at JOALI BEING. Photo: JOALI BEING.
More than a traditional kids' club, B'Kidult offers a thoughtfully curated programme of experiences across the island. The weekly calendar sends children out across the island, to the Art House for painting and clay, the Culinary Learning Centre for cooking, the CORE movement studio for yoga and fitness, Okyanus for marine biology, the Marine Centre for the water, and MOJO and FLOW beaches for games at sunset. A typical day might start in the B'Kidult room at nine, move to the Art House at eleven, the kitchen at lunchtime, CORE mid-afternoon, Okyanus at four and the beach at five. The chefs, artists and marine biologists running those sessions are the same people the adults see.
Pippa says this was the first decision the team made, and the one they have held to.
"One thing that has always been important to us is that children experience the whole island, rather than feeling that their holiday is limited to the kids' club. JOALI BEING has so much to offer, and we want our younger guests to enjoy and discover as much of it as the adults do."
"I think children deserve to have the same sense of discovery and adventure as the adults, just in ways that are engaging, exciting and suitable for them. After all, this is their holiday too!"
The four pillars reach children the same way. There is a Mindful "Nice" Cream session in the kitchen, a Musical Sound Pathway, Kids Animal Flow and Breathe, Bend and Play in the movement studio. None of it is presented as a lesson. "We try to bring these concepts to life through fun, interactive and engaging activities. For children, the best way to learn is often through doing, exploring and experiencing things for themselves."
What happens when the kids club manager is a marine biologist?
**Turtle Snorkel | Okyanus sessions five days a week | A million questions**
Coral frame planting. Photo: JOALI BEING.
The Okyanus Marine Biology Centre is Pippa's other department, and it shows up on the children's calendar five days a week: Coral Bingo on Mondays and Tuesdays, a Marine Life Presentation on Wednesdays, a Turtle Identification Game on Saturdays and Turtle Researchers on Sundays. Children quickly work out who she is.
"Children are always fascinated to find out what my favourite marine animal is, which usually leads to about a million more questions about all the other marine creatures they love. I am always more than happy to answer every single one of them!"
She sometimes answers them on the water. Turtle Snorkel can be booked through the Marine Centre, which welcomes children if they can swim. Pippa joins these excursions as part of her role as a marine biologist.
"Seeing the children's faces light up when they spot sea turtles swimming freely in their natural habitat is something very special. For many of them, it is their first close encounter with these incredible animals, and hopefully a moment that sparks a lifelong curiosity and appreciation for the ocean."
The reason she does this is personal. "I fell in love with the ocean at a very young age, and I hope that by sharing my knowledge and passion, I can inspire that same love in the next generation." And it reaches beyond the reef. "We love giving children the opportunity to discover more about the Maldives beyond its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. Through our activities and experiences, we introduce them to the incredible marine life, local culture, traditions, and the importance of protecting the natural environment that makes these islands so special."
What do children ask to do again and again?
**Pizza and cookies | Seabob | Professional chefs**
Sushi class. Photo: JOALI BEING.
Alongside the island's enriching wellbeing experiences, hands-on culinary adventures and watersports are among the younger guests' favourites. Children want to cook, and they want to go fast in the water.
"Our cooking and water sports activities are definitely two of the biggest hits! Whether it is making their own pizzas or baking cookies, children love getting hands-on, being creative and, of course, enjoying the delicious results of their hard work. Our water sports activities are equally popular, especially giving children the opportunity to try something new, like learning how to use a Seabob."
The Seabob is a small underwater scooter that pulls a swimmer along. It appears on the kids' calendar on Sunday afternoons and twice a week for teenagers. The cooking happens at the Culinary Learning Centre, the resort's teaching kitchen, where Cookie Making runs on Thursdays and the pizza class, Fun with Flour, on Saturdays. Asked to walk through one session, Pippa picks the pizza.
"The excitement starts as soon as the children put on their aprons and meet our professional chefs. They begin by learning how to knead and prepare their own pizza dough, getting their hands covered in flour along the way! Once the dough is ready, they get to let their creativity take over, choosing from a selection of fresh, whole ingredients, sauce and toppings to create a pizza entirely of their own. The chefs then help bake their creations in the oven, and the children get to enjoy the best part of the experience: tasting their very own delicious masterpieces!"
Why do children come back for more? "They get to learn new skills, build confidence, get a little messy, have fun and, most importantly, create memories."
What do children make and take home?
**Art House | Resident artist | Resin, clay, t-shirts**
Easter at B'Kidult. Photo: JOALI BEING.
The Art House is the resort's studio, and its resident artist works with the children most mornings at eleven. Some of those sessions carry a charge, which is marked on the calendar. What comes out of them is the kind of thing that does not get left behind in the villa.
"From resin art and t-shirt painting to air-dry clay sculptures and so much more, the children never cease to amaze us with their creativity and imagination. What I love most is that every piece is completely unique. Children get to express themselves, experiment with different materials and create something that is entirely their own."
"For them, it is so much more than just an art project. It is a little piece of their holiday, something they have made with their own hands and a memory of their time at JOALI BEING that they can take home and treasure long after they have left the island, and even share during show-and-tell at school."
What is there for teenagers?
**Own calendar | Free trial scuba | No upper age**
Teenagers often seek independence, variety and opportunities to discover experiences that reflect their individual interests. B'Kidult gives them a separate weekly calendar from the age of 12, with no upper limit, and they share the club's indoor and outdoor space with the younger children. The teen calendar adds what the kids calendar does not: Free Trial Scuba Diving at the Marine Centre on Mondays and Thursdays, VR Discovery Sessions, Bubble Soccer on FLOW Beach, Social Padel, and a DJ Fit Night in the CORE studio on Tuesday evenings.
"By day three, they might find themselves playing tennis or padel, getting creative in one of our art classes or discovering a newfound talent for pizza or cookie making. These are definitely some of our most popular activities."
"I think what wins them over is the variety and the freedom to try something different. We want teenagers to feel that there is something here for them too."
Which evening should we plan around?
**Tuesday Open Cinema | Book a day ahead | Thursday Sunset Gathering**
Two evenings stand out on the calendar. Thursday brings a Sunset Gathering on MOJO Beach from 6.30pm, open to kids and teens together. Tuesday is the one Pippa names.
"Our outdoor movie nights are when B'Kidult comes alive. There is something cozy about transforming our outdoor pavilion into a little cinema, where the children can settle in, enjoy a fun movie and, of course, indulge in all their favourite movie snacks."
The Open Cinema runs from 7.30pm to 9pm and needs booking a day ahead through your Jadugar, the resort's name for your butler.
How does a shy child settle in?
**Slow start | One friendly face | A spark for each child**
B'Kidult activities. Photo: JOALI BEING.
This is the question behind every kids club booking, and Pippa answers it from both ends: the four-year-old who will not let go of a hand, and the eleven-year-old who has decided a kids club is beneath them.
"I think the key is understanding that every child is different. With a younger child who is feeling shy or anxious, we take things slowly. We never want them to feel pressured or overwhelmed. A warm welcome from our team, a little time to settle in and perhaps introducing them to an activity they enjoy can make all the difference."
"With an older child or teenager who might feel that a kids' club isn't for them, it is all about finding something that genuinely interests them. This is where having such a varied programme really helps. Ultimately, it is about building a connection with each child, understanding their personality and finding that little spark that makes them feel comfortable."
The moment she looks for is a quiet one. "For me, the moment you know they have truly settled is when they stop looking back for their parents and become completely immersed in what they are doing. They start making friends, laughing, exploring and asking when they can come back."
What do parents say at pick-up?
**Time for themselves | Kids menu at the club | Nobody wants to leave**
B'Kidult pool and pavilion. Photo: JOALI BEING.
Children can eat at B'Kidult, ordering from the In Villa Dining kids menu, so a parent's afternoon does not have to end at a set dinner time. Pippa is clear about what that gives parents: "the opportunity to enjoy some time for themselves, knowing their little ones are in a safe, welcoming and engaging environment."
What they love most, she says, is "knowing that their children are not only having fun but are also making the most of their holiday, discovering new interests, learning new skills and creating wonderful memories along the way."
"One of the nicest things is when parents come to collect their children and the little ones are so busy having fun that they don't want to leave!"
The KCC view
Mother-daughter yoga at B'Kidult. Photo: JOALI BEING.
JOALI BEING saw something many wellbeing resorts miss: families want to travel together, and a holiday works best when every generation gets the full experience. When the resort opened B'Kidult it created an environment where younger guests could discover the island through meaningful, engaging experiences. It opened the island to them, and it gave the job to a marine biologist.
That decision runs through everything. A professional chef teaches children to knead dough. A resident artist works beside them in resin and clay. Pippa, who leads B'Kidult, goes with them to see the turtles as part of her role as a marine biologist. Children are not handed a cut-down version of the resort; they are treated as guests in their own right, and so are the teenagers, with their own calendar and no age at which they stop being welcome.
What stands out most, though, is the care rather than the venues. Pippa's test for a settled child is the one every parent cares about, the moment they "stop looking back for their parents", and her method for getting there is patience and attention: a slow start for the anxious four-year-old, something that interests the sceptical eleven-year-old, "that little spark" for each. Asked what makes her smile, she talked about her team before she talked about the reef. That tells you who is looking after your children at JOALI BEING, and it is why B'Kidult works.
Quick facts
| | |
| --- | --- |
| Club | B'Kidult, JOALI BEING, Raa Atoll, Maldives |
| Manager | Philippa Darbyshire-Jenkins (Pippa), also the resort's marine biologist |
| Ages | Kids' activities 4 to 11; teens' activities 12 and over, no upper age; under 4s welcome with a parent or babysitter |
| Hours | 9am to 7pm daily; some evening sessions run later |
| Space | Shared indoor kids room and outdoor area; teens have a separate weekly calendar |
| Cost | Access is complimentary; some sessions carry a charge, marked on the weekly calendar |
| Meals | Children can eat at B'Kidult from the In Villa Dining kids menu; no set family dining time |
| Booking | Marked sessions need booking one day ahead, via your Jadugar |
| Venues used | B'Kidult, Art House, Culinary Learning Centre, CORE studio, Okyanus Marine Biology Centre, Marine Centre, MOJO and FLOW beaches |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a kids club at JOALI BEING?
Yes. B'Kidult opened in December 2023 and runs daily with separate weekly calendars for children aged 4 to 11 and teenagers aged 12 and over. It is managed by Pippa, who is also the resort's marine biologist.
Does JOALI BEING take children under four?
Under 4s are welcome at B'Kidult with a parent, guardian or babysitter. Babysitting is available at an extra charge; ask the resort for current rates.
Is the JOALI BEING kids club free?
Access to B'Kidult is complimentary. Some sessions carry a charge and are marked on the weekly calendar. Confirm the current list with the resort.
Do children at JOALI BEING see turtles?
Children who can swim can join Turtle Snorkel, booked through the Marine Centre. Pippa joins these excursions as part of her role as a marine biologist. The Okyanus centre also runs turtle identification and Turtle Researchers sessions during the week.
What is there for teenagers at JOALI BEING?
Teens have their own calendar with free trial scuba diving, Seabob trials, VR discovery sessions, padel and tennis, Bubble Soccer, a DJ Fit Night and the Tuesday Open Cinema. Pippa says tennis, padel, art classes and cooking are the most popular. There is no upper age limit.
Do we need to book B'Kidult activities in advance?
Sessions marked with an asterisk on the calendar need booking one day ahead. Unmarked sessions can be joined on the day.
*Programme details are drawn from twelve questions answered by Pippa, B'Kidult manager, in November 2026, and from JOALI BEING's current B'Kidult activity calendar. Sessions, hours and charges change seasonally; confirm with the resort before travel. Photographs: JOALI BEING.*