Let's start at the very beginning
Providing fun wellbeing tools as a nonprofit social enterprise
Start at the beginning means from birth. What children learn in the first few years of life can have long-lasting effect on their overall health and wellbeing. Start means to begin doing something; Beginning means the first part of something.
The Wellbeing Team are volunteers, helping to create fun books and #KnitWellbeing knitted toys and continue to share the wellbeing message to children and the whole family.
Excited to share our 2023 Newsletter, packed full of fun wellbeing stories. Click here!
BIG CAL arrives in the Western Isles!
BIG CAL is having an amazing journey, travelling around Scotland, visiting nurseries and primary schools. Having already visited Aberdeenshire, North Ayrshire, and Edinburgh since October 2023, BIG CAL left Glasgow last week and arrived in the Isle of Barra on 5th March and is looking forward to playing at the Castlebay Nursery and maybe even visiting the beach for the first time!
The only cost to hire BIG CAL is the arrival travel, which naturally depends on where BIG CAL is coming from. To date the full cost of postage and preparation has been £15.
If you're interested, please click the link below and complete the Agreement Form. We can then review available dates. The idea is that BIG CAL will be in one location for 2 weeks (can be more if requested/available)
Games, Activity Journals and Toys for wellbeing and rights
#KnitWellbeing 2021 celebrated Wellbeing with CAL, the Wellbeing Octopus
#KnitWellbeing 2022 celebrated Children's Rights with BUTTER, the multi-coloured rights caterpillar
#KnitWellbeing 2023 celebrated Human Rights with BRAVE BUTTERFLY
#KnitWellbeing 2024 celebrates BIG CALs adventures across Scotland
"What has eight legs and wellbeing at its heart? The Calamari SHANARRI octopus, otherwise known as CAL, is used to help people learn about wellbeing." GTCS, Teaching Scotland, Wellbeing Tools, November Issue 2020
"It's great that your resources are available now, with such a need to focus on wellbeing. Good for teachers to have something to help." Sue Palmer, https://www.upstart.scot/
"The book (BUTTER) is lovely and feels gentle and kind. I was smiling when I was reading it and your mission to make the costs minimal hasn't resulted in a reduction in quality. Congratulations. It's great to see the UNCRC articulated so well." Cathy McCulloch, Co-Director, Children's Parliament
My Wellbeing Game
A colourful book to accompany the Wellbeing Game Journal as CAL works through the fun, active Wellbeing Activities to achieve the Wellbeing Award Certificate. Ideal for 3 to 6 year olds. 30 pages; 210mm x 210mm. RRP: £4.99
Introduction to CAL
This is a great way to introduce the 8 areas of wellbeing. The book is full of colourful pictures, poems and quotes. Ideal for 3 to 5 year olds.
PDF only @ £1.99
My Wellbeing Journal
Includes eight fun activities, clearly explained with space for notes, drawings, pictures and photographs. The Wellbeing Award Certificate can be separated and framed! RRP: £1
BUTTER, My First Journey
BUTTER spends time learning about life by taking a journey through nature and meeting others who share their wisdom. The book is filled with colourful rainbow speech bubbles and hand painted pictures, easy to copy! Best for 3 to 7 year olds. 34 pages; 210mm x 210mm; Gloss 150gsm cover; 115gsm silk; RRP: £4.99
Rights Activity Journal
The Journal is packed full of fun activities to help children learn about the fundamental children's rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled from the day they are born. RRP: £1
"We met BUTTER, the multi-coloured children’s rights caterpillar who spends time learning about life by taking a journey through nature and meeting others who share their wisdom." @LeafyTrailsFS, June 2021
My Next Journey
As BUTTER enters the world of adulthood as a butterfly, BRAVE BUTTERFLY organises an event for everyone to help each other learn about 'Human Rights,' using fun characters, including Cheeky Chipmunk, Gentle Giraffe, and Calm Koala. The book includes a variety of rhymes, games and poems. Best for 5 to 8 year olds. 22 pages; 210mm x 210mm; Gloss 150gsm cover, 115gsm silk; RRP: £4.99
Click here to 'LOOK INSIDE'
8 Wellbeing Cards (pdf)
Sing along to CAL's Wellbeing song @
https://youtu.be/2-3gDm63TZA
#KnitWellbeing: Volunteers knitting CAL, BUTTER & BRAVE BUTTERFLY
Since 2021, knitters from all over the UK, and abroad, have joined the #KnitWellbeing campaign to provide fun wellbeing toys , free with any Book order. We are always looking for #Knitwellbeing volunteers, and especially now as we aim to create at least another two BIG CALs! We simply need some crocheters to create crochet squares and knitters to create scarfs for the arms. If you're interested to create any of the Wellbeing Toys to help young children learn about wellbeing and rights, please contact hello@startatthebeginning.co.uk for FREE knitting patterns.
How to order a Wellbeing Pack
The aim of the Wellbeing Books is to provide a fun way for young children to learn about wellbeing, staying fit and healthy. CAL uses the 8 wellbeing words creatively: Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Responsible, Respected and Included. Children can take part in various activities set out in the book, and then be rewarded with an official Wellbeing Award Certificate. A knitted or drawn CAL provides an exciting addition to the learning process.
BUTTER provides a friendly learning tool to help children learn about the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. As stated in both Human Rights and Children's Rights, these rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible, and are based on shared values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and independence.
Why use a caterpillar?
- We all start life as an egg
- Caterpillars vary hugely in shape, size and colour
- Caterpillars live in many places around the world
- Every caterpillar (a child) has a different life experience to a butterfly (an adult); and
- Caterpillar and Octopus toys are easy to knit! #KnitWellbeing
BRAVE BUTTERFLY, the Human Rights Butterfly, is accompanied by 12 friends to create fun games and activities, including poems and rhymes, to help children (age 6 to 8) learn about Human Rights.
Start at the Beginning
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Share your fun wellbeing games, pictures and songs with us and please, keep in touch.
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