Children’s Wellbeing Tools
Start at the Beginning creates fun wellbeing tools that help young children explore emotions, build confidence and feel supported from the very earliest years.
Building Imagination
Children are supported to recognise how they feel and why, building self-awareness and confidence through trusted tools, conversation and shared experiences.
Growing Cognitive
Through play, creativity and storytelling, children are given inclusive opportunities to share thoughts, feelings and experiences in ways that feel natural and pressure free.
Increase Confidence
Children develop coping skills, courage and resilience that help them manage change, challenges and relationships, supporting wellbeing now and into the future.
About Us
Wellbeing starts at the beginning of life
We believe that wellbeing starts at the beginning, in early relationships, everyday conversations and moments of play. Our tools are designed to fit naturally into children’s daily lives, helping them feel safe, heard and valued.
Developed in collaboration with nurseries, schools, families and volunteers, the Start at the Beginning Wellbeing Tools use play, storytelling and creativity to support emotional awareness, communication and connection. They are intentionally simple, non-clinical and accessible, allowing children to explore feelings at their own pace and in ways that feel right for them.
Our approach supports the adults around children — educators, practitioners and families — by offering practical resources that encourage meaningful wellbeing conversations without adding pressure or workload.
Our Approach
The Start at the Beginning Wellbeing Tools align with Scotland’s GIRFEC approach, the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Through consistent, caring use, the tools help children to be:
Active and Responsible – learning through play, creativity and shared experiences
Safe and Nurtured – supported through trusted relationships and calming resources
Respected and Included – listened to, valued and encouraged to express themselves
Healthy and Achieving – developing confidence, communication and emotional awareness
RECENT MESSAGES FROM THE CHILDREN
“We all love our friend CAL the wellbeing octopus, who is a regular visitor to the forest school sessions at Bracoden Woods to check up on us and ensure we are Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and all Included.” Shirley, Leafy Trails Forest
“The kids in my nursery are working their way through the well beginning indicators and are awarded badges when they understand what it means to them. They have a wish wall and when they all achieve their legs, they will get a special treat.” Kirkcowan Nursery
“We have loved having BIG CAL with us at ACE Place Rodger Drive, Crawfurd Road and Riverside settings. Children of ages 3 to 12 have all been introduced to CAL and used CAL during our discussions about the Wellbeing Indicators.” ACE Place Childcare
“The new book – BUTTER’s Journey of Discovery – with the knitted characters is exactly what we are looking for to teach the Rights of the Child across all age groups.” Bracoden Primary School
ABOUT US
Start at the Beginning
Start at the Beginning was created from a simple belief:
what children learn in their earliest years can shape their wellbeing for life.
From birth, children are learning, through play, stories, conversation and relationships. When wellbeing, values and rights are introduced early, they become part of everyday language rather than something “taught” later on.
That’s where CAL and BUTTER come in.
They were created to make big ideas feel friendly, playful and accessible, and are not just for teachers and professionals, but for parents, carers, volunteers and children themselves.
How CAL Began 🐙
Meet CAL, the Wellbeing Octopus
CAL (also known as Calamari SHANARRI) was created as a fun, visual way to help young children understand wellbeing.
Each of CAL’s eight legs represents one of the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators: Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Responsible, Respected and Included.
Through stories, games, journals and activities, children explore what wellbeing looks like in their own lives and are encouraged to celebrate their achievements with a Wellbeing Award Certificate.
CAL quickly grew beyond books.
Teachers, nurseries and families discovered that a knitted CAL made learning even more engaging – something children could hold, talk to, and take on adventures.
The Birth of #KnitWellbeing 🧶
In January 2021, during the challenges of the pandemic, the #KnitWellbeing campaign was launched.
Knitters across the country picked up spare wool and knitting needles to create CALs (and later BUTTERs) to gift to children, schools and nurseries.
What started small grew into a joyful, community-led movement.
To date, hundreds of CALs and BUTTERs have been lovingly created and shared – each one unique, colourful and full of kindness.
#KnitWellbeing continues to bring people together through creativity, generosity and a shared commitment to children’s wellbeing.
Meet BUTTER 🐛
A Journey into Children’s Rights
BUTTER, the multi-coloured caterpillar, was created to help children learn about rights, values and responsibilities in a gentle, age-appropriate way.
BUTTER’s name stands for:
“Be United Together Teaching Everyone Rights“
In My First Journey, BUTTER travels through nature, meeting others and learning along the way. The accompanying Activity Journal introduces seven key ideas, reflected in BUTTER’s seven body sections – a playful nod to the idea that every child’s journey is unique.
Just like CAL, BUTTER can be read, drawn, played with, or knitted, making learning tactile, creative and memorable.
Welcome to the Wellbeing Library
NEWSLETTERS:
2025
VIDEOS: Watched over 3.2K times!
My Wellbeing Song I feel great – YouTube
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RESERVE BIG CAL!