Wow, September has come around quickly, hasn’t it! A lot of us will have spent the last couple of months thinking about uniforms, school shoes, and book bags, but if your child has just started school for the first time, let me forewarn you… the party invitations come thick and fast!

We have a teenager who has just entered her final year at school, and we also have a little one who's just gone into his first year, so I am already prepared that our weekends will become a thing of the past, as they did when my daughter was in primary school. Although, I’d prefer primary school parties over picking teenagers up from parties any day, there is no blog I could write to prepare you for that! And in the very rare case that said teen daughter reads this, I’d like to sing her praises for her exemplary behaviour at the one and only house party she attended (she was as traumatised as I was!).

But back to the topic of primary school parties: between the ages of 5 and 8, whilst children are still establishing their friend groups, be prepared to attend many parties. Because of this, I thought it would be a great topic to cover for my founder finds blog this month. So I have scoured the small business world for some beautiful gifts that would be perfect to stock up on ahead of the impending party season. Additionally, this is a great opportunity to support small businesses!

One business I will definitely shop with for gifts in the coming months is Cotton Twist. Cotton Twist creates a range of beautifully designed children’s craft kits—not only are the kits perfectly priced to stock up on for birthday parties, but they’ll also be sure to stand out among a sea of other presents. An added bonus is that they have banished plastic from their packaging, making it a perfect, well-priced, beautifully designed, eco-friendly gift choice!

And while I’m talking about Cotton Twist, I absolutely have to mention the collaboration they recently did with Abel and the Label. If you haven’t seen the "It’s Nice to Be Nice" beading kit, then you need to go and check it out. In terms of the product, it’s such a lovely kit and the colours are stunning! But what’s also lovely is the meaning behind the name of the product—go check out their launch reel to hear the story.

Switching it up now to something totally different, a company I have recently bought from is Rosie Meringue. We ordered our son an acrylic name keyring to attach to his book bag. I didn’t think I could get so excited over a keyring, but when it arrived, it was such a beautiful, well-made item that I couldn’t wait to show our son. He absolutely loved it and instantly attached it to his new book bag ahead of starting school. I think a personalised keyring would be such a thoughtful gift and definitely something that would be treasured! Alongside Rosie’s keyrings, she also does a really cool range of magnets. I love the idea of gifting a little set of these at a party, as I think it would make a great, unusual present.

Next up is a business whose items I’ve already got in a basket ready to check out for some gifts for my son! Button and Squirt do the most beautifully illustrated animal-themed flashcards and colouring books. The combination of colours and style of illustrations makes these cards really pop, and for the price, I think they would make the perfect gift for any child. But not only are these cards beautiful, but they are, of course, informative—you can see the time and effort that has gone into designing each one. And the cherry on top? 5% of every sale is donated to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation via "Work for Good." So, a beautiful, educational gift with the added bonus of supporting a family who are also supporting nature. 

Continuing with the theme of nature, as soon as I saw the Mini Beast crayon set from Colour Me Lincoln, with the wiggly worm crayon, I knew this would be a hit with any child who received it as a gift! Something I’ll definitely be getting for my son and his friends. Not only that, but they also do some really sweet wooden stencils, which would be the perfect accessory alongside some crayons. 

Another curveball, which is different from the ‘normal’ gift… How about stocking up on some handmade birthday badges from Meg Cat Hooray? These fabric badges are available with either a number or Happy Birthday, they are beautiful. They also come on a really lovely backing card, which I think would make a perfect keepsake gift. We’ve bought a birthday hat in the past from Meg, and the quality was brilliant (unfortunately, in a moment of absolute madness, I ordered the wrong age—me, scatty? Nooo!). I’ll definitely be adding some "Happy Birthday" pom-pom trim badges to our birthday stash! A gift that I am sure parents would treasure and re-use for many birthdays to come.

And finally, anyone reading this who knows me personally will be very shocked by my last recommendation…

Those who know me well know that I absolutely can’t cope with playdough—I got a shiver just thinking about it! I am so repulsed by the smell that I can’t be in the same room as it. But of course, like any other child his age, our son loves the stuff. So, a couple of years ago, I decided to buy him some homemade playdough. And while it took me a moment to overcome my initial panic, it turns out it smells nothing like the original. I’ll be honest, I’m still not the biggest fan, but it’s a welcome relief to have access to brands that make UKCA-marked playdough that smells quite pleasant.

And one brand’s playdough that even tempts me is Little Munchkins Playdough. Tanya’s pots are so beautifully put together, using bright, vibrant colors, sprinkles, and glitter that I almost wouldn’t want to let my son play with them!

Tanya also has a range of erupting botanicals, presented in a way that is equally as beautiful as the playdough. These erupting botanicals are sure to impress both child and adult alike! I can’t wait to get some of these, for my son of course…

So if you’re considering playdough as a gift, you should definitely head over to Little Munchkins, a gift that will provide hours of fun!

As the birthday season approaches, I hope this gift guide has provided you with some ideas for beautiful, thoughtful gifts.