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Finally, here are some more amazing resources that we have found to be helpful for neurodiverse families. Grab an cuppa, scroll down and explore!

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If you'd like to find out more about the pathway to diagnosis, here are some suggestions.

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Here are some suggestions of organisations who can support those with ADHD.

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Scroll down to find information about organisations offering support for autistic individuals and their families.

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There are many national and international services offering support for neurodiverse families. Scroll down to explore...

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Below you will find information about organisations covering the whole of Hampshire.

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If you live on the Isle of Wight, scroll down to find out what services are available in your area.

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Here is information about services in the South of Hampshire (excluding Portmouth & Southampton), covering Winchester, Eastleigh, Havant, Fareham and the New Forest.

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This column contains information about services in the North of Hampshire, including Basingstoke, Hart & Rushmoor, Alton and Andover.

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Offers All Inclusive sessions, specifically designed to let jumpers with special needs enjoy Atmosphere to the full.

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Atmosphere Trampoline Park - Active Nation

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Atmosphere Trampoline Park

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For families with autistic/neurodivergent or additional needs children in Hart, Rushmoor and surrounding areas.

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EVENTS

Saturday Zone

​One Saturday each month, 10.30am - 2.30pm so families can drop-in and play for as long or short a time as you like.
The cost is just £3.50 per child (to a max of £10 per family) and we provide the tea, coffee and juice. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch with you and stay all day :o)

​ .

Fun Zone

These sessions run on Wednesdays during school holidays and half-terms, from 10.30am to 2.30pm. They are the same as our Saturday Zones but aim to provide some fun in the holidays.

​

Zone Out

​These are events that we plan for school holidays and sometimes weekends too. They can be anything from a donutting session, Laser-Run or bowling to coach trips further afield to London Zoo's special children's day, Winchester Science Centre or anywhere else we can think of!
Do let us know if you have any ideas of good places for us to visit. ​

Info Zone

​ These sessions will be for training courses and events that we are able to organise to support families. If you have a suggestion of a course or speaker, please do let us know.

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EVENTS Saturday Zone ​One Saturday each month, 10.30am - 2.30pm so families can drop-in and play for as long or short a time as you like. The cost is just £3.50 per child (to a max of £10 per family) and we provide the tea, coffee and juice.

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Based at Popley Fields Community Centre, the library is open from 10am-12pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays (see Facebook for dates or email brclibrary@hotmail.com). Why not drop in to browse through their resources and chat about strategies over a cuppa?

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Basingstoke SEN Resource Centre | Basingstoke

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Basingstoke SEN Resource Centre, Basingstoke. 540 likes · 1 talking about this. Promoting inclusive practice.

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Swings & Smiles offers play sessions to enable children with a wide range of disabilities to play with siblings and other family members in a secure and safe environment.

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Swings & Smiles offers play sessions for children with special needs and their whole family at our centre in Thatcham. We have specialist play resources to enable children with a wide range of disabilities to play with siblings and other family members in a secure and safe environment.

We provide many opportunities for play, cooking, art, sport and much more. We have a personal care room as well as fixed and portable hoists. Our garden is totally secure and the building is on one level with lots of space outside to eat if you'd like to bring a picnic.

Indoors

Sensory room with ceiling hoist

Dark room

Activity room

Quiet room

Personal care room with hoist

Outdoors

Open space for play

Sensory garden, including vegetable garden

Fully accessible swings, including wheelchair swing

In-ground trampoline

Mini golf

Large slide and climbing frame

Interactive sensory area

Track with Tomcat trikes

Wheelchair accessible roundabout

Gaming cabin

All these facilities contribute to a range of experiences which can be stimulating or restful as required. They create an environment in which those with special needs and their families can be themselves and grow together.

Sessions run throughout the term times and school holidays to meet the needs of different children and young people. If you'd like to come along to one of our sessions then please book in advance .

Latest

On behalf of everyone at Swings & Smiles, we are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of our patron Mary Cameron. We send our heartfelt condolences to the family. Mary's support and generosity made an immeasurable impact on the charity from the outset. Ill health has affected her later years, but her love and support will never be forgotten

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Swings & Smiles offers play sessions for children with special needs and their whole family at our centre in Thatcham.

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Events – CAMHS

Follow this link to access a range of events offers to parents/carers and professionals across Hampshire during 2025.

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Hampshire SENDIASS - Special Educational Needs Support

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Introduce your child to an active lifestyle from a young age through learning gymnastics or ninja skills.

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Farnborough Kids Gymnastics & Ninja Club | Gymfinity Kids

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Welcome to Gymfinity Kids, Farnborough’s number one destination for children’s gymnastics, Ninja Knights classes, birthday parties, holiday camps, and more!

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Farnborough

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Autism Hampshire / Hampshire CAMHS Information Workshops

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Autism Hampshire / Hampshire CAMHS Information Workshops

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www.tickettailor.com/events/autismhampshire1

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FISH (Family Information and Services Hub)

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FISH (Family Information and Services Hub)

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Find information about what is going on in your area, details on how to access services, organisations and activities in Hampshire, and the advice and support that is available.

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Find information about what is going on in your area, details on how to access services, organisations and activities in Hampshire, and the advice and support that is available.

Choose a category

Latest News

1. Over 90% of families in Hampshire organise their own journeys to school. They walk, cycle, use public transport, lift-share with other families or take their child to school in the family car. Have a look at Hampshire County Council's Travel to school page for ideas and information. For a minority...

2. 100% of school leaders believe that food and diet can affect cognitive function and children's learning progress, according to the latest survey results from HC3S, Hampshire's main school lunch provider. 90% of schools value HC3S as a partner in supporting nutrition at school, so find out more about how HC3S...

3. We would like to hear from young people in Hampshire about what you would like to see on this website. What information would be helpful for you that's not on here? What do you like about this website? What do you not like about this website? Any feedback...

1. Move to slide number 1

2. Move to slide number 2

3. Move to slide number 3

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Family Information and Services HubNeed to find childcare? If you are having difficulties in finding appropriate childcare services please complete this online form to request help.

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Other Support:- giveusashout.org

Shout - 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you

need immediate help. Text 85258.

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Winchester - Monthly CAMHS Info and Advice Sessions

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Winchester - Monthly CAMHS Info and Advice Sessions

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We have received so many wonderful recommendations over the years, we thought we'd gather them all together. Scroll down to explore...

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Autism Hampshire offers a wide range of free information, advice and guidance services, including Workshops for parents, professionals and autistic adults.

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Information, Advice & Guidance Service

Our information Advice and Guidance team offers a wide range of free services to support individuals, families, and professionals as well as raising autism awareness within the local community.

This service is available pre, during and post diagnosis via the telephone, by email or by appointment at our Hampshire based office. Please note that although we are still available by phone as there is no access to our offices at this time.

We are available on the telephone (Monday to Friday 9 am - 5 pm) and by email. Autism Hampshire offers an information, advice, and guidance service for adults, young people and children with autism, their parents, carers and professionals. The service is available free of charge for people in Hampshire including Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

General Enquiries Tel: 02380 766162

Email: information.advice@autismhampshire.org.uk

Information, Advice & Guidance Offices: Autism Hampshire, 1646 Parkway, Whiteley, Fareham, PO15 7AH

Workshops for families Living in Hampshire and The Isle of Wight

We offer free Autism Support and Information workshops to families and individuals living in Hampshire. These workshops are for families of children and young people who are awaiting an autism assessment in Hampshire.

The aim of the sessions are to provide insight, advice and support prior or during an assessment and diagnosis. Each session will explore a different aspect of your child's unique way of experiencing the world, and suggest practical ways in which their differences can be accommodated and supported.

Each workshop is 3 hours long. The first part consists of a presentation after which there will be an opportunity for questions. The workshops are open to individuals, family members and others closely associated with the care and support of the child.

The course is open to professionals only if they are attending in the capacity as parent or carer.

Information, Advice, Guidance, Signposting & Support

The team have extensive information and knowledge of Hampshire-wide autism related services. They offer information, advice, guidance, support and signposting.

The team also present and attend events to offer support and advice and to raise autism awareness.

This service is available pre, during and post-diagnosis. They support autistic adults, young autistic people and autistic children.

To book in an appointment please email information.advice@autismhampshire.org.uk or call 02380 766162.

Our Serendipity Project Officer, Deborah Goatley-Birch, describes the support she received from Autism Hampshire's Information, Advice & Guidance service and how it helped her as the parent of a child who is autistic.

Pre, During & Post Diagnostic Pathway

The Information, Advice & Guidance Department is funded through Southampton City Council and CCG, Portsmouth Council and a Hampshire County Council Adult Services Grant to offer support for adults with autism, their families and those connected to them, professionals and the wider autism community.

The Service is based in Southampton and Portsmouth, but also offers drop-in sessions across Hampshire. The Support Service provides advice, guidance signposting and support to:

People who do not yet have an autism diagnosis or who have been referred by their GP for a diagnosis

People after a diagnosis of autism, with specific face-to-face support in helping people understand their diagnosis, what it means for them, and how to make plans to make their life better

Autistic people, their families and other people involved in the person's life and professionals pre-diagnosis, during a diagnosis and post-diagnosis. The advice, guidance, signposting and support is on-going, for as long as a person wishes

People who feel they present with autism characteristics, but do not have a formal diagnosis of autism, their families, others involved in the person's life and professionals.

Anyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of autism. Autism Hampshire manages the Local Autism Directory (LAD) and is able to signpost to a variety of services and information.

Diagnostic support:

Autism Alert Programme - Cards and App

Autism Alert Programme

Our Autism Alert programme supports autistic people, should they find themselves in any type of contact with the police or other emergency services. There is a wallet card, a car badge and an autism assistant app; all of which are provided free for any Hampshire resident.

For more information or to request a card or the app, please contact our Information and Advice team.
Spectra5 Autism Assistant App
The Spectra5 Autism Assistant App is provided in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary. The assistive app is a place to share information about yourself on a mobile device such as your smartphone or tablet so that people can understand a bit about you if you find yourself in a difficult situation or need some help and support.

Who can use it? Autistic adults who live in Hampshire (provided free of charge).

Why use it? The app is designed to help you when you need support from the police or emergency services. It can help you feel safer in situations that you find challenging and enable you to communicate more effectively. Spectra5can also be helpful in your daily life including work, education and leisure.

Please use Spectra5 App form to apply for your Spectra5 app.

For the application form and more information CLICK HERE.

Autism Alert - Wallet Card
Autism Alert - Car Badge
This yellow card should be carried at all times and shown to the police or emergency services in the case of an incident, enabling them to offer appropriate support and contact a named person listed on the back of the card.

The yellow Autism Alert car badge is to be placed with information facing inwards, blank side outwards, in the bottom left hand corner of the windscreen. It is designed to fit in a windscreen permit holder. In the event of an incident, emergency services would be able to identify the person on board who is autistic.

In addition these can be placed strategically in your home so that if emergency services attend you at home, they are aware that someone in the house is autistic.

For more information about Autism Alert app, wallet card and car badge and how to apply, please contact the Information, Advice and Guidance team.

Information, Advice & Guidance Library

We operate a well-stocked library with specialist books on all aspects of autism which are free to borrow.

Please call 02380 766162 to arrange a visit to the library.

Resource Lending Service - Try Before You Buy

We provide a 'Try before you buy' scheme to allow individuals and families to borrow our resources for a short period of time to see whether it is the ocrrect resourse to suit their needs. Items such a weighted blankets, ear defenders and timers are avaiable to borrow for a small deposit. Please contact our Information, Advice and Guidance team to enquire.

The Information, Advice & Guidance team host a variety of opportunities to get together for families, parents and carers, to share experiences and to meet other people. These are free to attend, and take place in a variety of venues across the county.

A wide variety of groups are run by other organisations to support autistic people, parents and carers. We keep a regularly updated list of all local groups for both adults and children, and list them on the Local Autism Directory

Presentations & Autism Awareness

Members of the Information, Advice and Guidance Department regularly give informal talks or presentations on aspects of autism to groups and professionals. Please contact the team for more information.

The National Autistic Society website also provides increased awareness and understanding of autism, detailing some useful examples of autism awareness training that currently exists.

Hospital and Care Passport

Being prepared for a hospital visit or emergency can make a real difference to the care you receive.

The Care Passport is a document that you can complete and update at any time. It tells people such as nurses, paramedics and doctors about your condition and how best to communicate and interact with you. It might save valuable time and avoid misunderstandings, hopefully leading to a better care experience all round.

You can use the Care Passport anywhere you think staff would benefit from the information.
My care passport for hospital and care settings
You can download the Care Passport and complete it at any time. It is a good idea to then keep a printed copy to hand and perhaps share it with a family member or carer should it ever be needed.

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Information, Advice & Guidance | Autism Hampshire

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Our information Advice and Guidance team offers a wide range of free services to support individuals, families, and professionals as well as raising autism awareness within the local community. This service is available pre, during and post diagnosis via the telephone, by email or by appointment at our Hampshire based office.

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Hub of Hope – the UK’s leading mental health support database.

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Hub of Hope – the UK’s leading mental health support database.

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Please note: Your place at each meeting must be booked in advance - we cannot allow entry on the door without a pre-booking. Booking for each meeting closes at 6.00pm on the day of the meeting. Places are limited due to the space available.

To ensure the safety and security of all attending, please note the following:

DO NOT ATTEND if you feel unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 during the meeting you will be asked to return home.

The wearing of face coverings inside the building is optional - please respect people's choices*.

All discussions that take place during this meeting are confidential and must not be repeated outside the room.

*Please note: we may have to impose tighter restrictions if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases locally.

Monday 15 July 7.30-9.30pm

We have been asked to present the Introduction to Autism talk that we often give to organisations and businesses. This gives a general overview of autism, what it is and how it can affect people. It is mainly aimed at those who have not come across autism before or those that may only have a limited knowledge, but can be a useful reminder for those that may have heard the talk before. The talk aims to dismiss the myths around autism.

Monday 16 September 7.30-9.30pm

Monday 21 October 7.30-9.30pm

Monday 18 November 7.30-9.30pm

Please note: If, after booking, you find you are no longer able to attend, please contact us as soon as possible so we can make your place available to others.

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NAS South Hampshire Branch autism support group

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NAS South Hampshire Branch provide a range of activities including support and social groups and events for autistic children, young people, adults and their families

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Shout is the UK's first and only 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere.

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24/7

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Donations doubled in the Big Give Christmas Challenge

Simply support Shout's Big Give campaign by midday on 5 December, and your donation will be doubled!

Can you help us hit our match funding target of £50,000 and support a further 5,000 people this winter?

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Ways to cope with upsetting events in the news

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious or sad about what's going on in the news, know that you're definitely not alone. Here are some actions we can take to help us cope better through times like this.

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Online resources and support

However you're feeling right now, you don't have to face it alone. We're here to support you with your mental health.

Take a look at our resources, information and support, find further help or reach out to one of our volunteers.

Resources for you

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Shout - UK's 24/7 Crisis Text Service for Mental Health Support

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Shout 85258 is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.

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NHS Talking Therapies are the NHS's primary care service for common mental health issues. The service works with patients using a variety of techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

They support people to improve their mental wellbeing through education, guided self-help tools and evidence-based talking therapies.

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Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust

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Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust

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Hampshire :: Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust

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Autism South East (ASE) is a family run and autistic led organisation, helping and supporting autistic adults and children and their families throughout the South East.

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We are a newly founded charitable organisation based in North West Kent. Our mission is to provide info and events for autistic people and their families.

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The Hampshire CAMHS Service has been experiencing a significant increase in demand since September 2020, when young people returned to school and lockdown measures were initially eased. We are working hard to respond to this whilst working within social distancing restrictions. Unfortunately, both these factors mean we are not able to respond as quickly as we would like in all circumstances.
In this short video Alison Wallis, our Clinical Director for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Specialist Services, explains how we are responding to the increase in need.
All referrals will be reviewed as an initial risk screening within 24 hours (during working hours) but for the majority of referrals there will be a significant period of time where you may not receive contact from the service due to the current volume of demand. We are therefore not in the position to respond to questions or queries regarding our waiting list or when a child will be seen.

We are experiencing increasing waiting times both for an initial assessment, and where appropriate ongoing treatment. Our average waiting time for initial assessments is 15 weeks and for treatment is 54 weeks. It is important to understand that some young people are seen much sooner, and unfortunately some will wait much longer. We are working hard to address these challenges and we are increasing resources in response.

We understand how difficult it is for children, young people and their families to wait for services when there is a need for treatment and care and we are doing everything we can to prioritise and manage this need and ensure that help is offered in a timely way to those that most need it. Please help us by considering whether or not a referral is appropriate by reading our referral page. Our staff are working hard to respond as quickly as possible. We understand how frustrating waiting can be and we are grateful for your patience and for treating our staff with kindness and respect.

If you need advice or support now, you can call 111 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or visit www.111.nhs.uk and speak to the NHS Mental Health Triage Service. The NHS 111 mental health triage service provides advice, support and guidance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone living in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Mental Health Triage Team has a wide range of skills, including on the phone brief psychological support and has access to key services and organisations that can offer mental health support to people in their time of need. The 111 team will also have access to your referral and CAMHS electronic record system so we can be joined up in our approach to support you.

This service can also be also used by GPs and other healthcare professionals, the emergency services, mental health charities and any other organisations that come into contact with people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Many people experience poor mental health at some stage in their life and this can cause difficulties for both the young person and their wider family. With the correct support most recover fully and are able to manage their mental health better. Below details some of the support that can help young people with this. Click the relevant button below to support you with what to do next.

Local services and support

Did you know that there are many services that help young people with emotional and mental health needs? Most young people find these services help them to recover and better able to manage their emotions/mental health. For a few young people, further specialist support from CAMHS is needed.

There are many local services offering a range of support. Below are a few that cover the whole of Hampshire and that we recommend regularly:

Youth counselling - https://hampshireyouthaccess.org.uk/

Support for Parents for behaviour that is challenging to manage - http://www.barnardos.org.uk/hspss.htm

Website for advice and support - https://what0-18.nhs.uk/

For alternative services potentially of use covering child care and early years, family support, young people and more, check the HCC directory of services https://fish.hants.gov.uk/kb5/hampshire/directory/home.page

Kooth is a FREE, anonymous, confidential, safe, online wellbeing service, offering professional support, information, and forums for young people - http://www.kooth.com

The above services and a number of local services accept referrals from parents or professionals, referrals do not have to come from CAMHS. Referral forms accessed via their websites above.

As a specialist service, we expect people have accessed other services in the community before making a referral to CAMHS. If you have accessed the above agencies, or something similar in your local area and you think more specialist support is needed then please complete a CAMHS referral. In order to support us in processing your referral, we need information about:

Impact

How is the young person's emotional wellbeing impacting on their day to day life? Specialist CAMHS is a service for children or young people where emotional difficulties are having a significant impact on a number of areas of the young person's day to day life. (Where there are single issues such as sleep, toileting or minor eating issues the above local services should be accessed first).

Duration

How long has the young person had these difficulties? What local services have been tried to support during this time? Specialist CAMHS is a service for children or young people where emotional difficulties have been impacting on their life for a significant period of time (if less than 3 months, other services should be tried first and time given for these interventions to make a difference). However, if there has been a sudden change in behaviour or if the young person is posing a significant risk to themselves or others then please do contact us or make a referral.

Context

What has been going on for the young person during this time? Have there been any major events (bereavement, family breakdown, physical illness...etc) Have there been any major events in the past? Is there a history of mental health difficulties within the family? What support is currently around the young person? (e.g. school, social care, youth services, wider family) What local service support has been accessed?

If there have been changes to the young person's behaviour and mood recently in response to some difficult circumstances and you are unsure if this is likely to be a normal or disproportionate response, please access the help pages on our website and see if your question can be answered there, or call the Single Point of Access Service to discuss your concerns.

Referral to CAMHS

Please ensure you have read the above information before making a referral. If after reading the above, you have decided that a CAMHS referral is appropriate, please continue reading below.

The preferred referral route is to use the Referral form. Once received, the referral will be reviewed by our clinicians in the Single Point of Access (SPA). This form is likely to take an hour to complete. Please ensure that you have all the information to hand prior to starting, ie: Personal details, Education details, Physical health details, and the young person's NHS number. The best information is detailed with examples. There is a 3 hour limit for the form to be completed, and it is not possible to save and return to it. We are happy to receive copies of any reports you have that may provide additional and helpful information. You can send these to us via email at: SPNT.HantsCamhsSpa@nhs.net. Please clearly identify them as relating to the child you have submitted a referral for.

Our SPA is a team of mental health professionals who monitor and process all new referrals coming into CAMHS. In SPA, we discuss referrals together to make an informed decision as to whether we accept a referral and offer an initial assessment appointment, or signpost to other services and/or self-help. Decisions are based on the 3 key areas covered above:

The impact of the symptoms/difficulties

The duration of the symptoms/difficulties

The context of the symptoms/difficulties

If you are a school representative, or GP, making a referral for an Autism assessment, please refer directly to Psicon kmccg.psicon.childrens@nhs.net enclosing the referral form found here: ASD Referral Form

If you are a parent referring for an Autism assessment, please ask you GP, or child's school, to refer directly.

If you have concerns that your child is experiencing additional mental health needs which you feel require further intervention, please look on our website for support, and discuss with your child's school or GP to determine if a referral to CAMHS is required.

Please note if your referral is for a Child in Care then the referral MUST be completed by the child or young person's SOCIAL WORKER.

What happens next?

If we think we can help you, we will judge how quickly you need to be seen for your assessment. We may also call you if we need further information.

You will then either be invited to an Initial Assessment appointment or if we think another service is better able to help, we will write you a letter giving you details of this service and/or recommendations of what else may help.

If you would like discuss whether to make a referral then you may call one of our SPA teams on 0300 304 0050 between 9am and Midday. You may also email us on SPNT.HantsCamhsSpa@nhs.net

Please note, we might not be able to get back to you on the same day.

General CAMHS Referral Guidance

What we do, what we don't do and what you can do if you are worried about your child

Below is a general guide to help you decide what may be helpful for your child.

More specific referral guides, actions and resources for worry, low mood, trauma, eating difficulties and behaviour of concern can be found on the parent/ carer and professional help sections on this website under the corresponding topic headings. Links to those topic pages can be found under the general referral guidance below.
To be redirected to the more specific referral guides, they can be found on the relevant parent/carer/professional issue page. Please click the appropriate button below to be redirected:

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The Hampshire CAMHS Service has been experiencing a significant increase in demand since September 2020, when young people returned to school and lockdown measures were initially eased. We are working hard to respond to this whilst working within social distancing restrictions.

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Understanding Your Child - Solihull Approach

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Understanding Your Child - Solihull Approach

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Free online courses for ALL parents, parents-to-be, carers, grandparents and teens living in Hampshire.

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Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) - Isle of Wight :: Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

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The Isle of Wight Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) provide a service to Children and Young People Aged 0-18 years and their families, who are experiencing emotional health and wellbeing difficulties due to a mental health condition.

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What can I do while waiting for an autism assessment?

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What can I do while waiting for an autism assessment?

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After a referral for an autism assessment has been made, most people will have a waiting period before the assessment. During this time, the referral will be processed and you may be asked to provide more information and/or complete a screening questionnaire. The assessment team will then advise you on next steps.

Waiting times vary considerably across the UK and even between neighbouring local authorities. Although there are health authority guidelines around waiting times, in reality the time people wait for an assessment is often much longer than expected. Some people report waiting many months or even years.

In England and Northern Ireland, to comply with NICE Guidelines waiting times should be no longer than 3 months. In Scotland, waiting times guidance for diagnostic tests are expected to be 18 weeks although it is noted that waiting times may be longer for some people. In Wales, the government action plan proposes a target waiting time between referral and assessment of 26 weeks for children; waiting times for adults should be in line with NICE guidelines.

Current data on waiting times in England from the point of referral to accessing specialist services can be accessed via the NHS Digital's Autism Waiting Time Statistics webpage. Data on waiting times for diagnostic services in Northern Ireland can be found on the Department of Health NI Autism statistics webpage. Data for Scotland and Wales is not currently available, you may like to contact your local NHS service or integrated care board for further information.

Even once an initial appointment for you to meet the clinician/s has taken place, there may be an additional waiting period before the diagnostic assessment appointment/s; there may also be waiting time between appointments once the assessment has started.

Waiting for a long time can be extremely stressful for both the individual seeking a diagnosis, their families and those who support them. A long wait for diagnosis may have an impact on the support and interventions available.

If you or a family member have been waiting longer than expected for an autism assessment, you may wish to contact your GP or the professional that made the referral to ask how long they expect you to wait. In some cases, people may want to consider making a formal complaint - this is an individual choice as there are no set waiting times after which a complaint should be made. There is guidance on how to complain on our page What can I do if formal support is not offered or is not enough?

Because you or your family member may be waiting a long time for an autism assessment, the GP or other professional who made the referral should offer as much support as possible during this time.

A formal diagnosis is often not required to access support, however this will depend on the kind of support that may be needed. Support can be provided by professionals, charities and local authorities as well as family and friends.

Through the referral process clinicians and other professionals may suggest:

local support groups or organisations

referring the person to speech and language therapies, where appropriate

referring the person to other diagnostic pathways or mental health services, where appropriate.

Even if help is not offered, it may still be available, and individuals can request support themselves if it is needed. This section lists the areas of life in which support may be needed whilst waiting for an assessment. The help that may be available will depend on the needs of the individual, their age and the support they currently access.

Please note that because we are talking about legislation, in some places we will use the word 'disabled' as a general term that includes autistic people, as this is how it is used in UK equality law.

School education

If a child or young person needs support at school, a request can be made for their educational needs to be assessed. This will help identify the type of extra support required to help them learn and support their wellbeing. Throughout the UK, there is no requirement for a child or young person to have a diagnosis to be assessed and receive extra help in school.

You can read more about what support and/or education plans your child may entitled to by reading our nation-specific information on Extra help at school.

Further and higher education and employment

Colleges, universities and employers all have a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' for disabled people. Reasonable adjustments are the legal responsibility to make changes to the way an organisation usually does things in order to prevent disabled people being placed at a disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This is intended to reduce barriers and increase inclusion.

Autism is generally considered to be a 'disability' as defined by the Equality Act 2010 in England, Scotland and Wales and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland. However, a person does not necessarily need a diagnosis to be considered 'disabled'. What matters is providing support based on individual needs.

You can find more information about this on our page Disability discrimination in further and higher education (GB). Information about disability discrimination in employment can be found on the website.

Social care

Social care services provide support for people who need it in their daily lives. To identify the type of needs a person has, a care needs assessment is required. This will usually be carried out by the person's local social work department. It is not necessary to have a diagnosis to request a social care assessment.

A social care assessment may be arranged by a professional who identifies that support may be needed, or it can be requested by a parent, young person or an adult. The process for requesting an assessment varies throughout the UK.

Following a social care assessment, local authorities have duties to provide the support identified as needed. Assessments should be provided for children, young people, adults and carers with an apparent need.

Further information about requesting a social care assessment and the type of support that may be available can be found on our social care pages.

Welfare benefits

A formal diagnosis isn't necessary to access certain disability-related benefits in the UK although having a diagnosis may simplify the process. Eligibility is based on an assessment of the impact of a disability on daily life and independent living and to cover the extra living costs associated with being disabled.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are several types of benefits available depending on a person's age:

In Scotland, there are:

In addition to the benefits available for those with disabilities, there may be other benefits that can be claimed. You can read more about the benefits available on our Benefits you can get page.

Peer support

In addition to formal support in education and employment and through social care and welfare benefits, other informal sources of support may be available. This is sometimes referred to as peer support and is often available to family members, partners, carers and professionals as well as autistic people themselves. Note that peer support groups are often welcoming to people who self-identify as autistic prior to, or instead of, having a formal diagnosis.

There are many local and online support groups throughout the UK, some of these are listed in our Autism Services Directory. The type of groups available varies between different locations.

The National Autistic Society has volunteer-led across the UK that provide support, information and social activities for autistic adults, children and their families in their local area. We also have online branches for autistic people with a shared interest, identity or experience.

Our Online Community is a virtual space for autistic people, their families and professionals to ask questions, support one another and discuss the issues and experiences that are important to them.

Additionally, our Parent to Parent Emotional Support Helpline provides emotional support to parents and carers of autistic children, including grown-up children. The service is provided by trained parent volunteers who offer telephone support from their own homes.

While waiting for an autism assessment, it can be helpful to prepare evidence that may be considered by the professionals involved in the assessment. Your assessment centre should let you know the kind of information you will need to provide as part of the assessment. If you would like to prepare earlier, you may wish to contact them to ask what kinds of evidence they would like you to provide to help you prepare for the assessment.

For general information about this, visit the What will the assessment consider? section of our page What happens during an autism assessment.

Our Clinical director on what you can prepare for an autism assessment

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What can I do while waiting for an autism assessment?

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Information about waiting times for an autism assessment, what you can do to prepare while waiting and what support may be available during this time.

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MHST are assigned to certain schools across Havant, Gosport, Basingstoke, Aldershot, Rushmoor, Winchester, Eastleigh, New Forest and Andover. Please speak to your child’s school to see if there is a team in place in your school.

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Mental Health Support Teams in Schools – CAMHS

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The Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) is a Hampshire CAMHS early help service designed to improve access to psychological therapies for young people, while also assisting schools to develop a whole-school approach to positive mental health and wellbeing.

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Raising neurodivergent children - an article

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Raising neurodivergent children - an article

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What to Know About Raising Neurodivergent Kids

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A lot of parenting advice centers around the needs of neurotypical kids. Learn tips for raising neurodivergent kids, supporting them, and tips for early diagnosis.

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Contact - for families with disabled children

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Contact - for families with disabled children

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Support when your child does not have a diagnosis | Contact

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This page contains information about support available when you child does not have a diagnosis

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ADHD UK was founded in 2020 with a mission to help those affected by ADHD – either those that have the condition or people close to them.

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We’re here to help people with ADHD Thrive. Positively changing what it means to have ADHD in the UK if not the world.

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Click the image above to explore some amazing resources and information about autism.

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ADDISS, The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service, provides people-friendly information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

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Welcome to ADDISS, The National Train your child to do what you want them to do. Easy to follow steps for disciplining without yelling, arguing or smacking. proven successful programme. Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service.
We provide people-friendly information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to anyone who needs assistance - parents, sufferers, teachers or health professionals. Whatever you're looking for in ADHD, we'll do our best to help.

This website contains just a fraction of the information that we have on ADHD. If you would like to know more, visit our Bookstore. It has a wide range of resources about all aspects of ADHD and associated conditions, with special sections for parents, children, teenagers and professionals.

If you would like to talk to someone about ADHD, telephone us on 020 8952 2800, or you can send us an e-mail if you have any questions or need more information about anything you see on this site.

ADDISS is a proud member of ADHD Europe, an organisation founded to advance the rights of, and advocate on every level throughout Europe for people affected by AD/HD and co-morbid conditions in order to help them reach their full potential.
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1 2 3 Magic Practitioner training courses for 2023

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ADHD Awareness Month 2020 - Common Questions, Reliable Answers

Working in partnership with organisations around the globe, we've reached out to people with ADHD and their families across the globe to find the most commonly asked questions. We've taken these questions to world-leading ADHD experts, who have given us answers you can rely on! Check out these answers at adhdawarenessmonth.org. For more information, visit our 2019 project website on myths and facts at adhdisreal.org.

COVID-19 and ADHD

ADDISS is determined to continue supporting people with ADHD during these difficult times, and we appreciate the support of each and every one of our members and the ADHD community. For more information on how to access support during this crisis, pleasesee our Facebook page, where you can get in touch if you need us.

We know that this pandemic is creating new challenges for people with ADHD, so we'd like to share this guidance from the European ADHD Guidelines Group - click here to view a PDF article.

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We now have a dedicated page listing several ways you can help support us in our work. Please follow HOW TO SUPPORT US
THIS LINK for more information.

We are pleased to announce a new and exciting way to support ADDISS that won't cost you a penny. In fact, it could even save you money on your online shopping! A NEW WAY TO SUPPORT ADDISS... THAT COULD EVEN SAVE YOU MONEY!

We have partnered with Savoo who will donate to ADDISS every time you search online via their website. In fact, you can make it even easier by making "https://www.savoo.co.uk/#addiss" your default search engine! It's totally free, and would help us a great deal.

All you have to do is follow this link, click "Support this cause", set up a free account, and start searching!

Savoo is also a great way to save money. If you visit Savoo, click "Support this cause", and set up an account you can find voucher codes for hundreds of your favourite shops including Boots, John Lewis, Amazon, and many many more. Every time you use one of those voucher codes Savoo will donate to ADDISS, and you will save money on your shopping!

And, if you're shopping with Amazon, use Amazon Smile instead of the normal amazon.co.uk - If you make ADDISS your chosen charity, Amazon will donate a small percentage of their profit from your purchase to ADDISS at NO COST to you!

For more information on this and other ways to support ADDISS, click here

WHO'S IN CHARGE AT YOUR HOUSE?
Put Yourself back in control.

The 1 2 3 Magic programme is highly recommended by ADDISS as behavioural intervention for children with ADHD and other challenging behaviours. We have now trained over 200 practitioners to deliver this programme to parents in the UK. Please contact us to find if there is a group running near you.

Buy the 1-2-3 Magic Book on-line now for £13.50 including Postage and packing.
Just click here.

NOW AVAILABLE
The Tipping Points
By Phil Anderton PhD
What professionals should recognise as the social impact of ADHD.
Retired police officer Phil Anderton brings us a unique book looking at how young people with poorly managed ADHD are at risk of following a path into crime, substance misuse, anti-social behaviour and personal danger, and outlines ways to reduce those risks with easy to follow and pragmatic text and checklists. The book, the first of its kind also has advice for magistrates and the police when coming into contact with these young people.
Order your copy now for
£9.99 plus £1.50 postage
You can buy it online now. Just click here

"As an adult who has ADHD, from childhood, and I have had my fair share of issues with the police and courts as a consequence, I really appreciate the interest in this subject being taken by Phil Anderton. This book should be read by anyone and everyone who deals with youngsters who have the disorder, if the people who looked after me had recognised my Tipping Points and done right by me, I might not have the criminal record that I have."
Gary Sendall, Founder WADDSUPP, adult ADHD support group in the Wirrall

"Many books seek to promote awareness of ADHD among the public but very few do so with as splendid a combination of science and compassion as does Mr. Anderton in this up-to-the-minute summation of what parents and others should know about ADHD and its management."
Professor Russell Barkley, SUNY Upstate Medical School

"This book is very welcome – it takes the lessons from the scientific study of ADHD and applies them to a social and justice perspective. It deserves to be read widely, especially by those who doubt whether the individual's vulnerability of ADHD is relevant to how society should react."
Professor Eric Taylor, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London

"Phil Anderton, an experienced police officer, has seen that many who get in trouble with the law have ADHD. In this book he clearly describes what ADHD is and makes very practical suggestions for how those with ADHD can be powerfully helped by appropriate treatment. His approach is sensible, compassionate, and desperately needed."
Professor Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D. Dept of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine

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RAISING FUNDS FOR ADDISS AND RAISING AWARENESS. ADHD is REAL

You can help raise funds for the national ADHD Charity ADDISS. At the same time you will be helping to raise awareness about ADHD by purchasing our Shopping Trolley Token Keyrings and/or the National ADHD Charity Wristband. Maybe you'd even like your own personal ADDISS Stress Brain! Click the picture for larger images and order details.

Phone: 020 8952 2800

Press enquiries
020 8952 1515

e-mail: info@addiss.co.uk

ADDISS
P O Box 340
Edgware
Middlesex
HA8 9HL

Registered Charity 1070827

Please give your support and help to raise much needed funds by making a donation to ADDISS.

We have now teamed up with Just Giving.com to create a secure method for making donations to ADDISS or for raising funds through various events.

To receive email updates of news and events please add your email address

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Welcome to ADDISS, The National Train your child to do what you want them to do. Easy to follow steps for disciplining without yelling, arguing or smacking. proven successful programme. Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service. We provide people-friendly information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to anyone who needs assistance - parents, sufferers, teachers or health professionals.

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Practical advice on supporting your child with their ADHD and mental health.

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What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects behaviour and concentration.

Children and young people with ADHD often seem unusually restless, impulsive or distracted. They may speak or act without thinking, struggle with organisation, find it hard to focus or appear to be always on the go. Some people with ADHD do not experience hyperactivity; this used to be called attention deficit disorder (ADD), though the term in no longer used officially.

ADHD is not a mental illness or a learning disability, though children and young people with ADHD may also have other conditions or experience mental health problems.

Living with ADHD can be very challenging, for children and young people as well as for their parents and carers. But the right diagnosis, treatment and support can make a big difference to a child's learning, life skills and relationships, as well as making family life easier. There is also lots you can do as a parent/carer to help your child manage the things they find difficult.

What are the most common symptoms of ADHD?

A child with ADHD may be:

easily distracted, finding it difficult to start or finish tasks

often unable to concentrate

often restless or fidgety

very talkative, often interrupting or blurting things out

impulsive, acting before considering consequences, prone to taking risks

easily angry or frustrated, struggling to deal with emotions

finding making or maintaining friendships difficult

disorganised, for instance often losing things or being late

lacking awareness of time

Every child or young person with ADHD is individual and they may not display all of these behaviours. And many of these traits and behaviours are typical in younger children, or can follow a traumatic experience - they don't necessarily mean your child has ADHD.

Age and gender can also affect how someone with ADHD behaves. This can make it harder to spot signs of ADHD, particularly in girls, who are more likely to be undiagnosed or wrongly diagnosed with other conditions.

Typically the symptoms of ADHD develop in early childhood and they may become particularly noticeable at times of significant change, such as starting or changing school.

What to do if you think your child might have ADHD

If your child frequently experiences some of these symptoms and it's affecting their day-to-day life, discuss your concerns with your child's GP. Before doing this, talk to your child's teacher and the school special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) about what they have noticed.

The GP may want to refer your child for assessment, as ADHD can only be diagnosed by a specialist such as a child and adolescent psychiatrist or paediatrician.

Sometimes parents are reluctant to pursue assessment. They may be worried about 'labelling' their child or about stigma, or they may prefer to watch and wait. These feelings are normal. But parents and young people who do seek diagnosis can find it helps them access the right support; understand and manage challenges; and identify individual strengths.

We have more information about getting support from the GP, CAMHS or school in our guide.

ADHD diagnosis, support and treatment

ADHD assessment is usually done through the specialist Children and Young People's Mental Health Services, commonly referred to as CAMHS.

Diagnosis is most commonly made in childhood, and in the majority of cases, symptoms affecting daily life continue into adulthood.

There is no single, definitive test for ADHD. Specialists will base clinical diagnosis on a combination of observations of your child; discussions and questionnaires (with you and your child); and information from your child's school.

They will consider how long the symptoms have been present; their impact on your child's daily life; and whether they might be due to another condition. The NHS states that approximately 60-80% of children with ADHD have at least one other condition (such as autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety or behaviour problems), and your child may be given more than one diagnosis.

Support and treatment options

You and your child should be offered support and advice to help manage ADHD in their day-to-day life.

ADHD can also be treated with medication and/or therapies. These should be discussed with you when your child is diagnosed, and are set out in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on ADHD.

ADHD can be treated with therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). For more information about therapy, see our parent guide to counselling and therapy.

There are a number of types of medication. These are not a cure for ADHD, and many children do not take them, but they can help manage some of the symptoms. Medication must be prescribed and overseen by a specialist.

You may also be offered ADHD -focussed parent training. This does not mean your parenting is somehow wrong. It is designed to provide support and specific strategies and skills to help you and your child thrive.

Jack is still perennially late, disorganised and impulsive; but he's also energetic, original and creative. The medication is helping him make the most of all of that.

What you can do to support your child with ADHD

Be explicit and consistent about unacceptable behaviour, such as violence. Set appropriate consequences and follow them through, but try to stay calm in the moment to avoid escalation. Dealing with challenging behaviour can be very hard, and our parent guide has helpful advice.

Plan the day so your child knows what to expect. Maintaining regular sleep patterns, physical activity and mealtimes can help your child. Some people find dietary change and/or certain supplements helpful. But the NHS states that there is no clinical evidence for this, and medical advice should be sought first. Our young person's guide has helpful advice on sleep problems.

The impact of ADHD on your child's mental health

Any child or young person can struggle with their mental health and wellbeing, whether or not they have ADHD. This might be caused by things like family change, bullying, exam stress or a traumatic event.

But having ADHD may also mean your child has extra challenges - such as social difficulties, struggling to manage their emotions or getting into trouble at school - that leave them more vulnerable to low self-esteem, anxiety or depression.

Children and young people with ADHD frequently have other developmental or mental health conditions and it is important to ensure they have the appropriate support for these.

As a parent there is a lot you can do to support your child with their wellbeing and mental health:

encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling with you. Our starting a conversation guide has ideas for keeping communication open

if you feel your child may have a mental health problem or another condition alongside ADHD, discuss your concerns with their GP or ADHD specialist.

Working with school if your child has ADHD

ADHD is a special education need (SEN), and it may be referred to as a specific learning difference (SpLD). Your child is entitled to appropriate support to help them thrive socially and educationally. This could include potential adjustments in certain situations, such as extra time or rest breaks for exams, movement breaks in lessons, written instructions for tasks and a seating plan that minimises distractions.

Discuss the diagnosis and needs with the school's SENCO, taking a list of your concerns and background information to the meeting.

Your child may be entitled to an education, health and care plan (EHC plan) which details the support they need and how it will be provided. (The National Autistic Society has helpful information about EHC plans.)

Good communication between you and school can be really helpful in ensuring your child thrives in education and meets their potential. Our parent guide to support has more advice on talking to school or college.

ADHD in teenagers and beyond

If your child is a teenager or young person, their needs and the support you give may well be different from when they were younger. They may like to read our young person's guide to ADHD and mental health. But there are still many ways you can help.

Looking after your own wellbeing

Parenting a child with ADHD can sometimes be isolating, upsetting or exhausting. Sometimes parents feel judged or blamed by others (unjustifiably as parenting does not cause ADHD). It is entirely understandable if you are finding things difficult.

It's important to recognise the impact the situation is having on you, and think about ways you can take care of yourself - including getting support from other people so that you can take some time off. It's okay to ask for help when you need it, and to share your worries with someone you trust. We have advice on looking after yourself as well as your child.

Our son's challenging behaviour with ADHD had an enormous impact on the whole family, as we and his brothers bore the brunt of his anger.

Where to get further support

If you would to speak to a professional adviser or find out more about how you can support your child, these organisations can help.
While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

This page was reviewed in March 2022. It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person with ADHD. We will next review the page in 2025. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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ADHD Support For Your Child | Parents Advice Guide

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If your child is struggling to manage their ADHD, read our tips on what you can do to support them, how to get a diagnosis and where to find help.

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Hampshire CAMHS website has some great information and resources around ADHD.

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If you have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) this means that you can struggle with paying attention, have high levels of energy and react quickly to things. This can get in the way of everyday life such as school, hobbies and making friends, although how much it affects someone can vary from person to person.

Tasks such as sitting still, concentrating and following instructions are much harder for people with ADHD as they often feel restless or fidgety, can be easily distracted and can talk a lot, which makes activities such as school lessons and doing homework even more difficult.

People with ADHD can sometimes find it harder in social situations such as making friends or playing games as they can find it hard to follow conversations, wait for things and take turns. Sometimes people with ADHD also have difficulties with getting to and staying asleep.

ADHD is a result of the brain being wired slightly differently to people who do not have ADHD. Although there is no cure for ADHD, the difficulties experienced, such as high energy levels, difficulties concentrating and reacting quickly, can be helped and managed in many ways including receiving extra support in school, learning techniques and strategies to help you cope and sometimes taking medication.

The most important thing to know is that having ADHD is not your fault and is not a bad thing. People who have ADHD are just as talented as those without ADHD. In fact it is reported that some of the world's most successful people have diagnoses of ADHD including; Justin Timberlake (singer), Jamie Oliver (chef), Will Smith (actor), Michael Phelps (Olympic swimmer), Emma Watson (actress) and Richard Branson (entrepreneur and owner of the Virgin brand) to name just a few!

There are lots of strategies and techniques that you, your parents, carers and teachers can use to help you cope and manage with the things you find difficult. So it is important to make sure that those involved in teaching or supporting you are aware that you have ADHD. You can find suggestions of techniques and strategies that might help on the website link below and using the free organisation and planning apps listed below.

As remembering, being organised and planning your day can be one of the hardest things to do and this often makes school difficult, it is a good idea to make notes or reminders and set alarms on your phone of important things that you need to remember. Try to be organised and plan ahead what you will need for each day. It may be helpful to let others help you with doing this. Having a familiar routine will also make it easier for you to remember what you have to do and what you might need with you.

If you have been given a diagnosis and have been prescribed medication to help you there is a really useful website called HeadMeds which can give you lots of information and advice.

What is ADHD - credit Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics

What is Wrong With Me? An ADHD Story- credit Jenna Boyd

Let Me Be Your Camera - Understanding ADHD - credit ADHDPerkins

What is ADHD - credit Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics

What is Wrong With Me? An ADHD Story- credit Jenna Boyd

Let Me Be Your Camera - Understanding ADHD - credit ADHDPerkins

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

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If you have a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) this means that you can struggle with paying attention, have high levels of energy and react quickly to things. This can get in the way of everyday life such as school, hobbies and making friends, although how much it affects someone can vary from person to person.

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The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity supports parents and carers so they can understand and meet the needs of their child.

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The ADHD Foundation is the largest provider of training in ADHD and neurodevelopmental conditions for professionals in the UK.

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Advice and guidance about autism and the challenges autistic people and their families face.

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Useful links to key information such as urgent help, advice and guidance, Autism Services Directory, branches and our online community.

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Take a look at the information about autism on the Hampshire CAMHS website.

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Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) – CAMHS

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Ambitious About Autism offer some excellent resources, as well as an online parent community and youth network.

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Join our growing online Ambitious Youth Network today. Through the network, you can share experiences, connect with others, have your say on Ambitious about Autism’s projects and access a range of opportunities to advocate and improve services for autistic young people.

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We empower, support and provide community for autistic women, girls and their families, advocating for the change necessary to build in a world in which they can flourish on their own terms.

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4 times as many boys are diagnosed autistic as girls. This is not an accurate picture.

Frequently, for many reasons, girls are diagnosed later (on average up to 6 years later), missed or misdiagnosed, causing long term mental health problems with too many girls feeling too anxious to attend school as a result.

Currently the assessment tools used to screen for autism are male-centric. We want to see tools in place that reflect multiple presentations and needs so that no child's need goes unrecognised or unsupported. We are currently pilot-validating the Internal Presentation of Autism Checklist that sits within our white paper Autism, Girls and Keeping it All Inside , so expect that to change soon. Our survey had 1123 responses in a week, so there are many people who feel strongly about having screening tools which feel representative. Our vision is for a system that enables autistic girls to thrive, to feel understood and to achieve the best educational outcomes.

Our aim is to raise awareness of autism in girls and others who present in an internal way with health, social care and educational professionals and to bring change. Not only to the way that autistic girls are assessed and subsequently supported but to the narrative, with updated and positive terminology used to describe autistic traits.

Our private Facebook group supports both autistic girls and women and their extended families, but there are many more who need our help. We are now a registered charity, fundraising to enable us to both fund projects which offer face to face support and campaign for real change.

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We are a small registered charity working to support, educate, and bring change. Here you will find lots of resources.

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A website about autism, for autistic young people.

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Autism Understood - About Autism Understood

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A website about autism, for autistic young people. Created by Spectrum Gaming, a registered charity & community for autistic young people

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Offers young people the chance to build confidence through a residential week away, team challenges, work experience placement, and community project.

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Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service

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We've been delivering our Prince's Trust team programme for the last 20 years with some great success stories. The free 12-week course is available for 16-25-year-olds who are unemployed and not in education or training. The course offers young people the chance to build confidence through a residential week away, team challenges, work experience placement, and community project.

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Advice and guidance for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities on the Isle of Wight

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Impartial Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support (SENDIASS) in the Isle of Wight.

Isle of Wight SENDIASS is an impartial Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) that aims to make a positive and lasting difference for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND) and their parents and carers. We do this by providing timely confidential, impartial information, advice and support through our online resources, at events and workshops, via our helpline service and through individual casework.

Isle of Wight SENDIASS is provided by Polaris Children's Services, part of a leading Children's Services Group with over 24 years of experience in supporting children, young people and their families to build brighter futures.

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We are a free and confidential service offering information and support on issues relating to a young person's special educational needs or disability.

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The Autism Ambassador Scheme - could you be an Ambassador?

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The Autism Ambassador Scheme - could you be an Ambassador?

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Autism Ambassadors are spreading the understanding of autism to work and community colleagues, family and friends. If you're interested in becoming an Ambassador, or would like to find out more, click the logo above.

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Autism Ambassador Scheme for Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight

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Information about the Autism Ambassador Scheme

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Here you can keep up to date with information, support and advice for local organisations, services and activities.

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Welcome to the Isle of Wight Family Information Hub.

This website will help keep you up to date with the information, support and advice available in your area.

There are lists of organisations, services and activities available to you, that you can access either in person or online.

Each listing will contain (where applicable) a description, and further contact details. This can include links to external websites if you need more information.

You will also be able to find national and local advice and support for you and your family.

For advice and guidance on the sign in process, and on the creation and upkeep of a listing, please see the 'Related links' in any category page.

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Home PageWelcome to the Isle of Wight Family Information Hub. This website will help keep you up to date with the information, support and advice available in your area. There are lists of organisations, services and activities available to you, that you can access either in...

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SFI - Isle Of Wight - What happens when I visit the stop smoking adviser

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Click the image above to explore information on ways to access financial support for neurodiverse families.

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Hampshire Healthy Steps is a new service that offers group support for families with children aged 2 to 12 across Hampshire.

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Welcome To Hampshire Healthy Steps : Barnardos - Hampshire Healthy Steps

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We offer advice, information, and support about healthy eating, how to get more active, how to sleep well, and ways to keep our teeth healthy. Our groups are designed to be fun, and interactive and to encourage children to get involved.

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www.otr-south.org.uk

OTR also run face-to-face, phone and Zoom counselling, not only for young people (11-25-year-olds) but also for parents and carers of young people.

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To visit the store and see the products either click on the QR codes or visit https://hampshirecamhs-resources.co.uk

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Hampshire SENDIASS / HPCN Get Togethers - 2025 dates

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Hampshire SENDIASS / HPCN Get Togethers - 2025 dates

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Hampshire Parent and Carer Network | Get Togethers

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Hampshire CAMHS upcoming events - Future events in 2025 

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Hampshire CAMHS upcoming events - Future events in 2025 

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Hampshire Healthy Families - Havant, Waterlooville and surrounding areas

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Hampshire Healthy Families - Havant, Waterlooville and surrounding areas

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A variety of parent/carer and toddler/baby groups, specialist groups and activities on offer in Havant, Waterlooville and the surrounding areas

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Do board games lead to flipped boards and sore losers? We know it can be hard to find a good game to suit the whole family, but click above to see our recommendations, and some top tips for playing games with neurodivergent family members.

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There are warm welcome spaces across the Isle of Wight. Many of them are open all year. List of Isle of Wight warm welcome spaces (iow.gov.uk)

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week - webinar recordings

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week - webinar recordings

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. The 2025 event covered a wide range of topics for discussion - click the image above to explore.

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The service provides face to face immediate crisis support if you are struggling with your mental health. You can come in person to the Safe Haven in Basingstoke, speak to us over the phone or access it virtually.

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Speakeasy Advocacy provide independent advocacy to vulnerable adults and children in Hampshire

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What we do...

We provide individual advocacy and self advocacy groups for vulnerable children, young people and adults, to ensure they have a voice, choice and rights. This includes working with people who are non verbal or have communication difficulties (known as non instructed advocacy). Our aim is to offer advocacy to Hampshire residents who are struggling to get the right care and support. However, most of our work is project funded for specific geographical areas in Hampshire or people with certain characteristics (for example a learning disability and/or autism).

The importance of us...

People and their families (and some professionals) tell us that it has never been more difficult to get the right care and support. We work with people in a very different way than other services so that everything we do with you and on your behalf is person centred and at your pace. As part of local communities in Hampshire, we have first hand knowledge of activities and support networks. We have extensive knowledge of health and social care legislation so can talk to services on your behalf 'in their language'.

Contact us

Find out more about how Advocacy can help you today.

What People Think of us...

The weight loss charts the advocate did with me have helped me eat the right foods. It's made a real difference to my life I have never felt so happy. It's stopped me going back to the dark place (self harm)."

"I have heard such great things about your Advocacy Safety Net Project from the Social Prescribers, it will be such a shame if it can't continue"

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We provide individual advocacy and self advocacy groups for vulnerable children, young people and adults, to ensure they have a voice, choice and rights. This includes working with people who are non verbal or have communication difficulties (known as non instructed advocacy).

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SNG Youth Empowerment Fund is aimed towards young

people between 16-25 living on the Isle of Wight, who need a bit of help with travel, personal development, heath & wellbeing, digital inclusion & moving into a new property.

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Move On & Thrive Youth Empowerment Fund | Sovereign Housing

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The Move On and Thrive Youth Empowerment Fund 2024 is for 16-25 year olds living on the Isle of Wight and need a little extra help to Move on and Thrive!

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All our free, official Children's Mental Health Week resources are on this page. We have lots of ideas and inspiration for you, from class activities and assemblies for schools, to top tips and creativity for families, to fundraising guides, plus bonus materials.

Take a look at our official:

resources for schools, including assembly slides, class activities, bonus Inside Out activities, and lots of top tips

fundraising resources, including a fundraising guide, fundraising ideas, and bonus materials like posters and bunting

resources for families, including top tips for families, and a creative activity from Place2Be's Art Room team.

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Resources and activities for Children's Mental Health Week

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Take a look at all our resources activities for schools and families, created with Here4You supported by The Walt Disney Company, as well as resources to help you fundraise and take part in the week!

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Does your child become distressed or anxious when faced with demands? To find out about Pathological Demand Avoidance - visit the PDA Society.

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'incredibricks' is a passion project to make incredible LEGO® sets available to those who, like me, are faced with limited space and a modest budget, but dream of building the D e a t h S t a r ™ . T i t a n i c . B o n s a i T r e e . K n i g h t B u s ™ .

Sound familiar? Read on to find out all about us and our journey so far.

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Rent incredible LEGO® sets direct to your door | incredibricks

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A new way to enjoy LEGO®! Borrow like a library book: build, play, display, return, all for a fraction of the cost to buy new and none of the clutter.

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The South Hampshire Branch of the National Autistic Society provide a range of activities - find out what's on by reading their latest newsletter.

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We've compiled a comprehensive reading list, which includes over 60 suggested books for you and your children to get stuck into. Go on, grab a blanket, snuggle up and get reading!

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This wonderful collection of resources has been gathered by a team of Parent Support Workers, who have been supporting neurodiverse families across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between 2016-2025. Sadly, our service has now closed, but we hope this Padlet will continue to provide some great information and ideas about other sources of support.

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Stop.Breathe.Think is a mental health charity offering online counselling to those aged 8-21, who cannot afford or access support quickly. No wait times and available nationally, we provide vital support to those who need it right now.

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Stop.Breathe.Think is a mental health charity offering online counselling to those aged 8-21, who cannot afford or access support quickly. No wait times and available nationally, we provide vital support to those who need it right now.

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This service mainly covers Berkshire, but some events may be accessed by parents/carers living in Hampshire.

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Support for Parents & Carers | Parenting Special Children

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We have wide a range of information, advice and resources for parents & carers to help you support the children and young people in your life

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We support children and young people aged 2 – 18 at our range of services, located across the South East of England.

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Help us transform the lives of disabled children and families through the power of play

"Challengers provides us with respite which is essential for us to keep going as a family, and there is nowhere else that can give us that." - Parent

Welcome

At Challengers, we provide play and leisure for disabled children and young people.

There are many barriers which stop disabled children from accessing play, but we challenge these barriers, making it possible for every disabled child to have fun and be included.

Every child has a right to play, and our non-exclusion policy means we'll never exclude a child based on the complexity of their needs. Where there's a will, there's always a way at Challengers.

Join the team at

We are currently recruiting for a number of roles, so if you're looking for a new job, Challengers might just be the perfect fit!

We're a friendly bunch and offer great staff benefits, plus we're a Real Living Wage employer - meaning you'll always be paid fairly based on the cost of living.

Interested to find out more? Head to our Jobs page to see all of our vacancies and apply today.

Support a Challengers family today by giving the gift of play!

Upcoming events

What's been going on at Challengers:

Join our amazing group of subscribers:

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At Challengers, we provide play and leisure for disabled children and young people. Every child has a right to play.

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Gingerbread - support for single parents

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Gingerbread - support for single parents

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Provides support and expert advice on any aspect of single parenting. Web chat, text support or helpline service available 0808 802 0925

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Skip to content

We're here for you

The Gingerbread Advice Service provides support and expert advice on any aspect of single parenting, from dealing with a break-up or bereavement to going back to work or sorting out child maintenance, benefit or Universal Credit issues. Our expert advisers provide tailored advice and can talk you through your options.

Our advice service is free and confidential, and we're proud to be AQS-accredited

Helpline: 0808 802 0925

Webchat: Click the green chat button at the bottom right of your screen

Before you get in touch
Check if your question can be answered on our website. Our information section covers a range of topics and is regularly checked and updated by advice professionals.

Demand for the helpline is extremely high so please be prepared to wait to speak to an adviser. There's less demand for the webchat service.

Do you need urgent support?

Are you feeling anxious, worried or overwhelmed? Text the word GINGER to 85258 at any time of day or night and talk to a trained volunteer who will work with you to take your next steps towards feeling better.

The service is free and confidential, and won't show up on your phone bill.

We're open Monday to Thursday, except bank holidays.

Mondays

Helpline: 10am to 12pm, 2pm to 7pm
Webchat: 12pm to 3pm

Tuesdays

Helpline: 10am to 12pm, 2pm to 4pm
Webchat: 12pm to 4pm

Wednesdays

Helpline: 10am to 1pm, 4pm to 7pm
Webchat: 12pm to 1pm

Thursdays

Helpline: 10am to 12pm, 2-4pm
Webchat: 12pm to 2pm

Our advice service is open to all single parent families who need advice and support about single parenting. We cover a wide range of topics including money, benefits, housing, employment, separation, bereavement, education and child maintenance.

Our advice service covers England and Wales only.

If you live in Scotland, please contact One Parent Families Scotland on 0808 801 0323.

If you live in Northern Ireland, please contact Parenting NI on 0808 801 0722.

If you live in Ireland, please contact One Family Ireland on 0818 662 212.

Our team can provide tailored advice on money matters, helping you make better informed decisions about your finances. The team cannot give benefit calculations via webchat. For a calculation, please call the helpline on 0808 802 0925 or use our online benefit calculator.

Find a quiet place so you aren't distracted by background noise

Demand for our helpline is very high so be prepared to wait before you speak to an adviser

Each call/webchat session lasts for around 15 - 20 minutes, so make sure you have enough time to speak to an adviser once you've been put through

Have any documents you want to talk about with you

Have a pen and paper so you can make notes

Our advice service is confidential. We won't share your information with anyone outside of the organisation without your permission, unless we're worried that someone might be at risk of harm.

Find out more about our confidentiality and quality commitments.

Yes. All calls, including from mobiles, are free and our webchat is accessible anywhere you're able to access the internet.

We can't guarantee that calls made from outside the UK will be free.

If you don't speak English as a first language, we can call you back with an interpreter. When you call the helpline, tell the adviser which language you need and give your phone number. We aim to call back with an interpreter the same day. All calls will be from a withheld (private) number. We will not leave a message without your permission.

Deaf and speech impaired callers can access the Gingerbread helpline via the NGT Text relay service. Text users can prefix their call with 18002.

It's our policy not to take calls from people who are driving as this isn't safe. This includes calls using a 'hands-free' device.

Callers are welcome to pull over to continue the call if they wish or call back another time when they're not driving.

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Gingerbread's free advice service is available to single parents across England and Wales. Contact us on 0808 802 0925 or get in touch via webchat.

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CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably

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CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably

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We’re here to help anyone struggling with life. Helpline / live chat / WhatsApp support open 5pm-midnight 0800 585858

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You can call for free on 0808 802 5544 - Monday - Friday 9:30am - 4:00pm.

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Parents Helpline | Mental Health Help for Your Child

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The YoungMinds Parents Helpline, Webchat and Email provide support and help for parents and carers worried about their child’s mental health and wellbeing.

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Winchester Youth Counselling - resource hub

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Winchester Youth Counselling - resource hub

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Resource Hub » Winchester Youth Counselling

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Welcome to Winchester Youth Counselling’s Resource Hub, your go-to space for support and wellbeing. Whether you’re a young person aged 11-25 or a parent/carer, …

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ADHD symptom tests, ADD medication & treatment, behavior & discipline, school & learning essentials, organization and more information for families and individuals living with attention...

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Here are some ideas of places to visit that are accessible for neurodiverse families in our area...

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Motiv8 | Creating safer communities for young people and their families

Motiv8 provides a range of activities to support and help inspire vulnerable young people. (6 and up).

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BRAAIN - Peer support group, Farnborough

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BRAAIN - Peer support group, Farnborough

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Talking to other parent carers about your experiences can be really helpful. An opportunity to share ideas, frustrations and experiences.

We hold a support group on the first Tuesday of every month at 8pm at the Ship Inn pub in Farnborough.

Ship Inn Pub, 162 Ship Lane, Farnborough, GU14 8BE

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Talking to other parent carers about your experiences can be really helpful. An opportunity to share ideas, frustrations and experiences.

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Booking is essential.

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Age 5-16 Firestone Copse Ryde and Parkhurst Forest Newport

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Outreach workers will support with advice and drop in clinics to support all of your needs.

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Click above for more information about apps that might be helpful for neurodiverse families...

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Find out what cost of living support is available in your area - connect4communities | Children and Families | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)

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IPSEA SEND Law training sessions for parents and carers. 

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IPSEA SEND Law training sessions for parents and carers. 

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All sessions are £65 and will be delivered virtually via zoom.

Book your place today:

https://buff.ly?3rnkitE

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Book your place on our free, upcoming SEN events and webinars. For parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs, gain live access to SEN professionals and have your questions answered.

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SEN Events, Webinars & Conferences - Witherslack Group

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Join 30,000 parent, carers and professionals at our events, webinars and conferences.

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The Neurodiverse Families team would like to say a huge THANK YOU! to all the parents, carers, children and volunteers we have worked with over the past 9 years. It has been a privilege to meet so many amazing people and we wish you all the very best for the future!

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Activities for the Winter.

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Aspens - Free online sessions for parents and carers

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Aspens - Free online sessions for parents and carers

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We are holding a range of FREE online Autism Central peer educator sessions this month. These sessions offer guidance to families, carers and personal assistants of autistic people and are run by peer educators. These are parents or carers of autistic people, who are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. These sessions are open to those living in Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire/IOW, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Find out more here.

If you would like to join please click on the links below to register:

Emotional Wellbeing in Autistic Young People

Tuesday 7 th November - 10:00-11:00am
Register here Autism and the Early Years
Tuesday 15 th November -10:00-11:00am
Register here Sleep and Autism
Friday 17th November - 1:00-2:00pm
Register here
Emotional Wellbeing in Autistic Young People

Tuesday 21 st November - 6:00-7:00pm
Register here Autism and the Early Years
Wednesday 22 nd November - 6:00-7:00pm
Register here Autism and Siblings
Monday 27 th November - 1:00-2:00pm
Register here Sleep and Autism
Friday 1 st December - 6:00-7:00pm
Register here
For further information, please email: [email protected]

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Join our Free Online Sessions for Parents and Carers

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These sessions, covering a range of subjects connected to autism, offer guidance to families, carers and personal assistants of autistic people and are run by peer educators.

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Our fun affordable online courses, clubs, camps and community** help neurodivergent* t(w)eens (age 8-16) make friends, meet role models, get creative and feel confident.

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Our online courses give neurodivergent young people, a nd their families, the knowledge they need to build confidence and manage stresses.

​

🌈 Affirming and positive 💜

Neurodiversity affirming

Nurtures your child's unique strengths

Supported by neurodivergent facilitators and peer

​

👋🏼 Accessible and Affordable 💲

No formal diagnosis needed to join

No waiting lists, affordable and easy to book

Free places available for low income families

​

👨‍👩‍👦 Support that works for the whole family 👨‍👩‍👧

Convenient evening sessions, from the comfort of home

Young people participate however work best for them

Additional parent support sessions included

Parents looking for support for a young person

Education or healthcare professionals working with young neurodivergent people

Organisations or individuals looking to partner

University students interested in becoming peer facilitators

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Wellness support for neurodivergent young people. We're on a mission to give neurodivergent young people the tailored support they need to embrace their strengths and face their challenges as they journey into adulthood. We work with clinical experts and neurodivergent people to create solutions that work for neurodivergent brains.

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Grove - Neurodivergent Mentoring and Education

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Grove - Neurodivergent Mentoring and Education

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Free Webinar Mini-Series from Grove Neurodivergent Mentoring and Education - for professionals and parents/carers

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Join Jess (GROVE’s Founder & Director) for a free, informative webinar mini-series.

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Headroom - Anger Management Support in Hart, Rushmoor and Surrey Borders

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Headroom - Anger Management Support in Hart, Rushmoor and Surrey Borders

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Headroom Charity - Supporting Young People & their Carers

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Marianne's Salon - Special Needs Haircuts

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Marianne's Salon - Special Needs Haircuts

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The 'Special Needs Sunday' service provides a quiet tranquil environment for special needs children to have their haircut.

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Special needs haircuts in Basingstoke, Hampshire

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Marianne’s hair salon in Basingstoke offers special needs haircuts. Marianne herself has an autistic child and understand the issues parents can face.

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Special Needs Haircuts in Basingstoke

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40 activities for children and families on the IOW

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40 activities for children and families on the IOW

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This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

An Isle of Wight family holiday is perhaps best suited for children during that brief patch when the toddler tantrums have stopped, and the teenage door-slamming hasn't quite started (we've got guides for toddlers and teenagers if you're dealing with that).

Holidays with under fives are like transporting a circus, and once they reach the teenage years they start to claim that all their friends are going on shopping weekends in New York.

Here are our pick of some attractions, days out and things to do on the Isle of Wight with children who are Primary, Middle and Junior School aged (about 5-12 years old). ​

1. Best Isle of Wight beaches for children

For a cheap and (relatively) stress free day out with pre-teenage children, most people head for the busy beaches like Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor or Appley (Ryde). Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor are good for swimming. Appley is a vast patch of sand at low tide so is good for football and beach games.

They all offer lots of stress-reducing facilities like easy parking, decent toilets, cafes selling chips and beach-side amusements like mini golf, paddleboards and machines which steal £1 coins. Sandown has a pier with amusements, bowling and an indoor play area whilst Shanklin is good for amusement arcades or beachfront minigolf.

We prefer slightly quieter beaches that sometimes require a little more effort or have more basic facilities. Try one of these:

low tide at Colwell, Totland, Freshwater Bay or Hanover Point/Compton Bay in the West Wight

St Helen's, Priory Bay or Whitecliff Bay in the East Wight

Steephill Cove in the South Wight

Gurnard in the North Wight.

Blackgang Chine is a good day out and is probably best for children aged around 3-11. Most people who have been to the Isle of Wight reminisce about its carbon fibre dinosaurs, crooked house, giant smuggler, pirate ships, cowboys and various things which fell into the sea when the cliff gave way.

The kitschy nature of Blackgang Chine is still there, and there are also some medium sized rides including a water slide (which even my weak stomach can handle) and an animatronic dinosaur section called Restricted Area 5. In 2023, they added a ride called Extinction, which has more of a white-knuckle vibe to it.

​Those who have been to big mainland theme parks might find it a bit tame, but there is enough to dazzle younger children, and it has more charm than most parks. The sea view is fantastic too.

Tickets are about £15-£25. You get free returns for a week so my advice for school holidays is to visit once at the start of the week and then return in an evening if they've got a special event.

​Read our blogs about:

3. Watersports and Beach Sports

If your children won't complain about falling in the icy waters around the Isle of Wight then there are loads of watersports on offer. Some have age restrictions, but if you're older than 8 or 9 then there are some good options.

We explore these in more detail in our guide for teenagers, but the main providers are:

Tackt-Isle Adventures - based in St Helens in the East Wight offering sailing and windsurfing for aged 8+ and kayaking for 9+

Wight Water Adventure Watersports - based in Lake in the East Wight offering equipment hire and lessons in various watersports for 8+

Beach kayak or paddleboard hire - a good el-cheapo option is hiring a kayak from some heavily tanned guy sitting on a deck chair and wearing a bum bag. Shanklin is a good bet for this option. You'll pay about £10 to hire a kayak.

UKSA (UK Sailing Academy) - offer fun days for 8-15 year olds during most school holidays.

West Side Beach hire in Sandown has standup paddleboards and kayaks

Sandown Bicycle and Beach Hire has 'beach volleyball, skimboards, snorkelling, bodyboards'

Cove Kayaks hires out a small number of kayaks, bodyboards and surfboards from Steephill Cove.

SupDog is a paddleboard hire place in Colwell

Warren Boats hires paddleboards in Seaview

iSurf offers surfing and paddleboarding lessons for about £30. They operate a mobile service (i.e. they've got a van) so they go wherever the surf is. Their main hut is in Sandown where you can hire surfboards and paddleboards.

We greatly enjoy the Isle of Wight Aqua Park, which we mention later in this guide.

There's also an organisation called Wight Wave which run beach sports such as beach soccer, beach tennis and beach volleyball during the warmer months from the beach at Appley. Some of their events are just for established teams but they also hold community events on certain dates. If you're interested, the best place to start is their Facebook page.

​ Tapnell Farm Park is one of those attractions which appeals to Dads like me, who like to drive around on a go-kart because their daughter "is feeling a bit nervous". I'm dreading the day that the children tell me I'm too old to join in.

It's much more fun than most farm parks we've been to and has a good mix of indoor and outdoor activities, including soft play and adventure play (zip wires, trampolines etc.). There is also a petting zoo with farm animals alongside foreign animals like wallabies and meerkats who are coming over here and stealing our, er, hearts.

​The cafes sell food you aren't ashamed to feed your children and the gift shops sell local art and food (as well as the usual stuffed tat). It's only been open a few years, so new stuff is being added regularly and it's nice and clean.

​Alongside all that, it's got a distant sea view and it doesn't stink of poo like most farm parks. Be warned, it does get pretty busy and noisy during peak season. We arrive at opening time and do the indoor play area or go-karts first. Tapnell Farm Park is also on the top of a breezy hill, so bring a jumper.

Entry is about £15. It's in the West Wight, so combine it with a quick trip to Freshwater Bay. It was named as the Isle of Wight's 'Best Large Attraction' at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2023.

Read the blog about one of our many visits.

If a box of souvenir Isle of Wight fudge will cause Aunt Ethel's teeth to fall out then you might consider a trip to the shop at West Wight Alpacas. Just think how great she'd look down the Post Office with an alpaca scarf or shoulder bag.

Besides the shop, there is also 'The Llama Tree' pizzeria which does those fancy wood-fired pizzas. For about £10 you can have a look round the farm or you can take an alpaca for a walk from about £25 (2023 prices). It's certainly not on the same scale as the three attractions mentioned above but reviews are positive.

The Isle of Wight's first aqua park opened in 2020, unless you count my neighbour's enormous paddling pool/trampoline combo (Ed: I think that might be stretching it a bit).

It's on the same site as Tapnell Farm Park in the West Wight but it runs as a separate attraction which you pay extra for (£20 per person at the time of writing). It is only for those aged 8+ and there are rules about younger children being accompanied.

It's a bit like Total Wipeout where you clamber around inflatable floating things and leap into the water. The main difference is that it doesn't include Richard Hammond making sarcastic remarks and counting his money whilst sitting in a dry studio in a different country.

Read the blog about one of our visits to the Isle of Wight Aqua Park.

7. Adventure golf/ mini golf/ crazy golf

If your idea of 'crazy' is putting a red golf ball around a corner then you've lived a very dull life, my friend. However, there are loads of adventure/mini/crazy golf courses on the Isle of Wight that fill a couple of hours with kids, until the inevitable cheating starts ('that was just a practice shot...' etc).

​We've argued our way round most of them now. A few to choose from:

Rylstone Gardens in Shanklin is an old-fashioned and charming minigolf course. It cost us about £10 for a family of four when we last visited - although that was a while ago. It's not terribly flashy, but it is in the middle of a lovely park and is next to a coffee shop so you might be able to leave the children playing whilst gorging on latte and lemon drizzle cake. Read our blog about Rylstone Gardens and Jurassic Bay.

Jurassic Golf at The Needles Park near Alum Bay has 11 holes. It costs £6 and is a nice new course to attempt whilst also visiting the chairlift and multicoloured sands. However, it's quite compact and expensive - read our blog. It's busy at The Needles so you may feel a queue forming behind you if your child takes 27 shots on each hole.

Which is the best minigolf course on the Isle of Wight, I hear you cry?

If it's raining, I would go for Caddyshack. The holes have been cleverly thought out with easy routes for young children and trickier shots for grown-ups. If it's sunny, I'd go for either of the dinosaur courses in Shanklin and Sandown. They're both modern, well-located and straight forward for children. If you want old-fashioned charm for about half the price, go for Rylstone Gardens.

For those keeping notes, Jungle Adventure Golf on Shanklin Esplanade disappeared in 2019 to make way for Caddyshack. No flowers please.

Alum Bay and the Needles reminds me a bit of the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. OK, so it's not quite so spectacular but it is a natural wonder that has become a tourism hotspot with loads of different things to do.

​The bits that will appeal to children are unlikely to be the wartime, telecommunications and space race history of the National Trust'sOld Battery.

However, families do flock to: the chairlift, the handful of funfair rides, the boat ride out to the lighthouse (you can't go in the Lighthouse unfortunately) and the shop where you can fill up a glass shape with multi-coloured sand.

You pay about £6 to park and then you just pay for whatever you decide to do. Most activities cost £3-4. If you've got a National Trust card, show it at the main Needles car park for a parking discount.

In summer, the Needles is open late on some evenings and they put on a free fireworks display. It gets busy but we really enjoyed it and it's terrific value.

9. Wight Karting (8+) and mini tank driving

Go-karts are never a cheap day out, but Wight Karting near Ryde does family deals and it gets rave reviews from visitors. Also, bear in mind that Lewis Hamilton earns about £40 million a year and he started out go-karting, so it's a more sensible investment than a lottery ticket.

There are various speeds of vehicle available, so anyone over the age of eight can take part. It even runs in wet weather, ideal for those who like the 'drowned rat' look.

The sessions are split by age group, so my nine year old daughter was able to give it a go without competing alongside a group of lads on a stag do.

Read the blog about my embarrassing attempt to beat a rival dad at Wight Karting.

Alternatively, those aged 10+ can have a Mini Tank Driving Experience on the outskirts of Newport. It takes place at Butterfly World in vehicles that are about the size of a Smart car. You pay about £12-£15 depending on whether you want tanks that fire at targets.

​Before you ask, no you can't fire at the butterflies.

The same venue has paintball target practice which is for ages 6+.

10. Dinosaur Isle and fossil hunting walks

The first corridor at Dinosaur Isle is a bit educational for my liking, although I'm sure it's very worthy and important stuff for academics. As I've said before, trying to educate your children in August is a bad move.

However, once you get into the main room, it is much more child-friendly with things to prod, poke and smell. There are staggeringly large bones which are well presented and genuinely interesting.

​It is quite small but it is near to some other nice beaches and attractions ( Sandown Bay, Yaverland beach, Sandham Gardens - see #14).

If you're really into dinosaurs, there's also a small museum in the West Wight called the ' Dinosaur Expedition, Conservation and Paleoart Centre'.

On a related note, you can fill a couple of hours on a dinosaur fossil hunting walk. They tend to cost about £5 each and are run by a few different companies on the Isle of Wight.

We went on a fossil walk with Dinosaur Isle on a windy day in April. It started with a talk about the geology of Yaverland before we walked along the beach looking for bones amongst the stones which had washed up on the beach.

​Island Gems has won lots of awards for its fossil hunting tours, including Best Activity Provider at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards 2022. Their fossil hunts take place around Brook Chine in the West Wight. The beach is famous for its dinosaur footprints, which you can see at low tide.

Dinosaur Expeditions runs fossil hunts from five different beaches along the crumbly cliffs of the Military Road. They also run a small museum in the area (as mentioned two minutes ago).

Dinosaur Isle's fossil walks are on the other side of the Isle of Wight, around Yaverland and Shanklin.

If you want to avoid the general public (I don't blame you) then you can go on a private fossil hunt with Wight Coast Fossils.

I had imagined that we would be chiselling away at the cliffs and shouting "I've found a new species!" to the sound of cheers, which wasn't quite the case. However, we were delighted to find a small dinosaur fossil and our eight year old didn't complain (much) about the headwinds.

See our full guide to dinosaur themed holidays on the Isle of Wight.
​If it's raining then you might like to shelter in the safety of Cineworld's modern multiscreen cinema in Newport, or the more nostalgic cinema in Ryde, which is much smaller but is usually very cheap (£4 at the time of writing). Good luck finding a film that everyone is happy with...

Just round the corner from Dinosaur Isle on Sandown esplanade is Sandham Gardens, which has been revamped into a decent attraction with enough to fill a few hours. You don't pay an entry fee, you just pay for individual attractions.

There's a free skate park and football/basketball court alongside a play area that older children will enjoy, as well a toddlers' playground. Dads won't be able to resist trying out the zip wire. See our toddlers guide for more playground advice.

The paid attractions include a fancy dinosaur themed minigolf course, which opened in 2019 (about £6, mentioned earlier) as well as some electric go karts (about £5 a race) and some 'Skynets'. These opened in 2020 and involve bouncing around in giant nets. They cost about £13.

In case you're worried, the Skynets in Sandown have no relation with the baddies of the same name in the Terminator films.

14. Traffic-free cycle tracks

A good free outing is to Bembridge Lifeboat Station to see their impressive vessel that hangs at the top of a slope ready to swoosh into the sea. There's a huge great walkway/pier, although it does have some small gaps in it so smaller children need to watch out.

They also hold training events where you can watch the lifeboat being launched. Details are usually on their Facebook page.

​For those without wigs, the 'Island Breezer' open top bus routes provide a fun way to see the Isle of Wight. A warm day is preferable, or you'll soon be calling it the 'Freezer'.

​The Needles Breezer trundles through Yarmouth, Freshwater, Alum Bay and Colwell in a circular motion in just under an hour, whilst the Downs Breezer does a circular route through Ryde, Sandown, Brading and Arreton in just over an hour. The Island Coaster is no longer open top, but has good views and goes from Ryde to the Needles, via Ventnor in 2 hours 45 minutes. The Shanklin Shuttle is no longer an open top bus.

You can hop on and off all four, and you can buy an all day ticket which also covers the connecting 'normal' buses.

I would say that the Needles Breezer is better for seeing unspoilt scenery and some sea views, whereas the Downs Breezer is better if you want to stop at busy seaside resorts and attractions on route (having said that, Brading Downs has lovely views).

​The Island Coaster is an epic journey of nearly three hours which takes in loads of lovely coastline and sea views. It is very scenic in places but personally I'd be somewhat sick of buses after three hours (and it's not circular so you'll need to get another bus back to wherever you are staying). Of course, you could just do part of the journey. It's no longer an open top bus, which does take away some of the appeal in my view.

It's better value if you travel in a group. At the time of writing (2023 prices), you can get a hop-on hop-off 24 hour ticket for £16 for an adult or £8 for a child - but it's only £37 if you travel in a group of any five people. That's a saving of £19.

One ticket gives you access to all four buses (and other Southern Vectis buses) - so you can attempt a bus tour challenge if you fancy it.

Families with strong stomachs and deep pockets may prefer a helicopter tour of the Isle of Wight.

These take off from Sandown Airport and cover a big chunk of the Island in either 15 or 30 minutes. The minimum age is six and the maximum weight is 15 stone.

On the shorter flight you either head off towards St Catherine's Lighthouse in the South Wight or Ryde and Cowes.

The longer flight covers a few more landmarks including The Needles and Osborne House.

There's no way Mrs Guru would let me take the kids on a helicopter ride so we stick to the bus...

Once you've fallen out with each other over minigolf, you might like to try Isle of Wight Football Golf which is on fields alongside Tapnell Farm Park and the Isle of Wight Aqua Park (although they are all separate attractions). It's on a pleasant spot overlooking the West Wight.

There's a shorter 9-hole course which is more suited for younger children and a longer 9-hole course for dads who want to shout "'ave it" as they hoof the ball into the car park. When I last checked, it was £6-£11 depending on how many holes you sign up for.

I've spent the last 10 minutes trying to come up with golf/football mashup puns but the best I've managed is Christiano Ron-Faldo and Rory McIlroy-Keane.

Read the blog about our wet day at football golf.

I wasn't sure if I should include anything that may appear educational in this list. I used to get very irked when my mother used to try and make me learn things during school holidays.

However, if your kids are constantly lunging at each other with swords and holding shields then you might get away with
English Heritage make a good effort to keep it family-friendly withjousting on the bowling greenin the summer. Is there a charge? Yes, of course, that's the general idea of jousting (Ed: groan).

There are also donkeys which pull up a bucket from a well all year round and a dry moat outside the ground that we used to run up and down like lunatics.

There's another smallercastle in Yarmouth, but Carisbrooke would be my choice if you only have time for one.

Osborne House (another big English Heritage property) didn't interest me until I was at least 25, but well-meaning parents may be able to talk children round with the promise of summertime entertainment or an ice cream on the beach. The entertainment has previously included aPunch and Judy show on Queen Vicky's beach.

If you plan to visit two or three of the Isle of Wight's English Heritage properties then you might consider membership as it also gets you a ferry discount. My rule of thumb is that entry to Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne costs about two thirds of the price of annual membership to English Heritage. If you can get a discount on membership then it's probably worth coughing up.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway appeals to a) families who fancy a nice ride on an old choo choo train and b) men called Nigel and Brian who like to discuss the merits of Ivatt Class 2 locomotives.

A round trip takes about an hour, but they do put on special events throughout the year and there's also a small play area, woodland walk and the 'train story discovery centre'. The train route is inland and goes through some nice scenic fields although you won't get a sea view.

​An alternative option is the Island Line which travels from Ryde Pierhead to Sandown and Shanklin. The route is relatively attractive but not stunning (the bit along the pier is the most exciting). We wrote a blog about our trip on the old Island Line service before it was replaced in 2021 with new trains.

A free alternative is the Isle of Wight Bus Museum in Ryde. It is run by volunteers and isn't on the same scale as the steam railway, but you can climb on board several old buses. It's indoors so may be a good option on a rainy day.

They also run events during the year where you can have rides on vintage buses.

20. Horse Riding

Treasure Trails is a UK-wide provider of treasure hunts that offers several around Isle of Wight towns. They're one step up from the kind of thing your mother used to write, although you do have to pay for them (about £10).

Alternatively, City Breaks UK do an Isle of Wight themed walking tour with the slogan "The travel guide that's a game!". This one is £25 and I haven't tried it myself.
They usually take a couple of hours and involve a walk of a couple of miles, although the Bembridge one is done on a bike and travels a bigger distance. If you get stuck you can text them and they'll give you a hand. If you complete the puzzle you can enter a prize draw and download a certificate.

​So far we've done the Treasure Trails in:

The Needles and Alum Bay - not pushchair friendly, quite hilly and quite windy but worth it for the views throughout the whole trail. Parking was quite pricey but it filled about three hours. My favourite so far.

Cowes - took a couple of hours around the town and involved about 30 steps but you can take a detour if you've got a pushchair. Small playground towards the end of the route. Some scenic seaside bits.

Freshwater Bay and Tennyson Down - it took us a whole year to complete this one, as we did half of it in 2019 and returned in 2020 to finish it off. Beautiful beach and one of the Island's best views from the top of the Downs. We took a pushchair but we regretted it as there were lots of gates and a really steep climb towards the end. Quite a lot of walking and massive cliffs so it may not be ideal for rogue children.

Godshill - shorter and more compact Treasure Trail with less walking and a couple of tricky questions. Keep a close eye on children in the pavement-free areas and shops selling breakables.

Ventnor town - lots of lovely views, very steep hills to climb, took us two hours. Playground about halfway round the route. About 20 steps, but you can take a detour if you know the town a bit.

Ventnor to Steephill Cove coastal path - fantastic sea views, lots of steep ups-and-downs as well as some steps. Was pouring with rain for most of the time when we did it but we still enjoyed it. Took us about three hours over two days. Probably my second favourite so far.

Yarmouth - nice mix of scenery along a cycle path and sea wall and through the small town centre. Mostly off road. We managed it with a pushchair though there was a steep slope with steps at one point. Scenery not quite so spectacular but still coastal and very pleasant.

Meanwhile, Geocaching combines a 17th century pirate's love of treasure hunting with a 21st century child's love of staring at small screens. The basic idea is that you download an app on a smartphone that shows you roughly where little boxes of 'treasure' are hidden all over the world.

The 'treasure' is usually a tupperware box full of little trinkets that has been hidden by a fellow geocacher.

​You sign a log book, swap a trinket if you want to and then declare to the world that you found it. There are lots of 'caches' hidden across the Isle of Wight, some of which are at landmarks and historic sites.

It is free for the basic app or you can pay a fee if you want the version with more features.

We wrote a blog about our first Isle of Wight geocache adventure. You might also like to watch this video called What Is Geocaching?

22. Child Friendly short walks on the Isle of Wight

If you'd rather keep it simple and free, some of our favourite short strolls on the Isle of Wight include:

**2023 Update - the first walk in this list currently involves a big detour due to a landslide**

Bonchurch to Ventnor, along the sea wall. Not great for little children as there are no railings stopping them falling into the sea for most of the journey but it's a flat walk that we have managed with pushchairs in about half an hour. The walk also displays a scale model of the Solar System. Warning: Ventnor doesn't have great mobile signal so be prepared to blag your way through a series of questions about the planets without the help of Google. We park at the Shore Road car park in Bonchurch and then walk towards Ventnor where there are places to eat and a playground near to the Winter Gardens.

If you keep going along the coastal path once you get to Ventnor then arrive at Steephill Cove. Personally, I prefer this walk but it's hillier and more challenging for young children.

​​Carisbrooke Castle's dry moat is good for a short walk and you can access it without paying to get into the Castle. You can walk up from Carisbrooke village via Castle Street which has a ford for children to fall into. Alternatively, drive up to Carisbrooke Castle and walk round it for nice views across Carisbrooke and Bowcombe.​

Ryde Esplanadeis long and has some attractions and entertainments along the route including two playgrounds on the seafront and a splash park. If you keep going past Appley Tower you'll end up at Appley Park, which has another good playground.

Compton Bay is probably our favourite beach for a wander along the sand. It gets nice sunsets and is particularly appealing in the late afternoon on a hot day when everyone else has gone home. You can either park at the Hanover Point end which has about 20 steps to climb down or the Compton Farm end which has better views but a precarious set of steep steps and a bit of clambering to get on to the beach. There isn't as much beach in winter. Yaverland Beachis a better option for walking if you have a dog, as it allows dogs all year whereas Compton Bay is closed to dogs in the warmer months.

See our full guide to one mile walks for children on the Isle of Wight.
23. Amusement Arcades and games arcades

If you have deep pockets and a high tolerance for electronic noise, there are amusement arcades on the seafront in Sandown (on the Pier), Shanklin (our personal favourite) and smaller ones in Ryde and at The Needles.

The Shanklin arcade is particularly good as they keep investing in new machines so you don't spend all your time complaining that a machine has stolen your pound coin.

Ryde also has a free-play games arcade called Game On. You pay upfront (about £10) and can then play on everything for 90 minutes.

Ventnor's Gaiety seafront amusement arcade disappeared a few years ago and is preparing to become residential property.

24. Seafront 'funfairs'

On Ryde's Esplanade, towards the Appley end you will find Peter Pan's Funfair and Amusements, which is aimed at younger children and has things like a small carousel, teacups and little cars to drive.

I've only looked at it in passing, so you may want to read the reviews on TripAdvisor.

Meanwhile, Shanklin Seafront has some small funfair type attractions, like those balls you climb inside and run on water. We've been to this one a couple of times and enjoyed it.

There are also amusements at The Needles, including a carousel (as previously mentioned).

The Isle of Wight's bumpy roads can be a bit nauseating at times, and can lead to children complaining from the back seat. One solution is to tell them to imagine it is a rollercoaster ride at Blackgang Chine but if that doesn't work then try our Isle Spy Car Journey game.

We've chosen 15 things which you'll see on an Isle of Wight car journey, including quirky road signs, a giant-coloured cone and a very short stretch of dual carriageway.

Print it off and see if you can find all 15 before someone throws up.

I know what you're thinking - my kids are not going to be impressed if I take them to something which is bordering on educational during the school holidays. However, the Wight Military and Heritage Museum may well appeal to some as they offer rides in armoured vehicles. Check their website in advance as it is a charity run by volunteers.

27. Sea Safaris and Pleasure Cruises

Taking children on a boat trip is a bit of a gamble, as there is always a chance that one member of your party will start to feel sick and ask to go home when you are sat out in the Solent.

If you are willing to risk such things, then you might consider the following:

Needles Pleasure Cruises runs a tame 20-minute tour out to the famous red and white lighthouse (you can't go in the lighthouse) and a less tame 15-minute high speed ride around the coastline. They leave from Alum Bay and cost about £8 for the slow ride or £15 for the fast trip.

Black Rock Cruises also covers the Needles, but they leave from Yarmouth which makes it a longer journey that explores more of the West Wight coastline. Costs about £30 for 90 minutes. They also do a fishing trip that lasts a couple of hours.

Coral Star is another boat that is based in Yarmouth and offers trips to the Needles.

During the summer months, the world's last 'seagoing paddle steamer' (the Waverley) usually does trips around the Isle of Wight. It's based in Scotland but visits other parts of the UK (reviews can be found here).

28. Family friendly festivals and events

Sandown's Pier is one of four left on the Isle of Wight (Yarmouth, Ryde and Totland are the others) but it is the only one which offers classic pier-style attractions.

So, roll up, roll up for the headache-inducing clankity-clank of amusement arcades and the flashing lightbulbs of teacups and dodgems. You'll also find a cheap bowling alley, minigolf, indoor play and a couple of bars.

​It's cheap and cheerful but it's a good way to waste a couple of hours if it suddenly starts raining when you are sat on the beach in your pants.

Read the blog about Sandown Pier.

If you enjoy recreating episodes of The Generation Game, head for Isle of Wight Pottery in Niton. They offer group pottery making sessions which are £100 for four people as well as kids' sessions.

There is also a paint-your-own souvenir type place in Ryde called Fired Art Ceramics.

Chessell Pottery Cafe stopped doing pottery painting in 2023 but you can still visit for a cream tea.

Now don't get me wrong. Children will not be entertained by the glorious floral displays and tea served in delicate crockery at Mottistone Gardens (West Wight, near Brighstone). Nor will they be impressed with the adjacent manor house, which hosted Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter's wedding reception.

However, there is often a trail or something similar for children and they can waste another 10 minutes in the den building area. It is a National Trust property so worth a stop if you are members. Check the website first for opening hours. ​​

I wouldn't plan a full day out with children at The Garlic Farm, but it is worth an hour or two of your time if you are in the Sandown or Shanklin area. Entry is free and then you pay a few pounds for a 20 minute tour around the farm in a trailer pulled by a tractor. If you prefer, you can follow a walking trail through the woods. It's family run and is very well kept and laid out.

The Garlic Farm Shop was named as 'Best Shop/Retail' at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2022.

It is a working farm, although we didn't actually see any garlic growing as they rotate round between fields and were using a section a couple of miles away.

There's a small (but modern) playground, a popular café and various garlic tasting opportunities. Of course, there's also a large garlic themed shop where you can discover what happens when you add garlic to perfectly decent tasting things like beer. The owners also organise the Garlic Festival in August which is a sort-of country show with a focus on garlic.

Not recommended for vampires or first dates.

I previously just included Godshill Model Village in our guide to days out for toddlers. I've added it to this guide for older children after a successful day out with three girls aged four, six and nine who spent an hour or two pointing and giggling at things and completing a quiz. I wouldn't drag a teenager round.

The Model Village is immaculately kept and has the feel of a family's pride and joy rather than an attraction created to relieve tourists of their money.

​If you want an amusing five minutes then stand near to the model of the model village and listen to every visitor having the same conversation. I thought about recording eight hours of it and entering it into the Turner Prize.

The Model Village costs about £7. Prudes should look away when they get to the streaker at the model football match.

Fort Victoria is a medley of small attractions, housed within a beachside fort designed for firing cannonballs at unwelcome ships in the Solent.

There's currently a planetarium and the Isle of Wight Reptilarium and Terrapin sanctuary.

The attractions cost about £5 each.

There's also a woodland with natural trails at the site, which is worth exploring. We found homemade swings and a rarely visited beach that can be reached via some steps in the woods.

On 'Welly Wednesdays' during school holidays, you can take a tour of Briddlesford Lodge Farm for about £8. There are tractors and Guernsey cows, as well as some activities for kids.

According to the blurb, the tour includes an appetising opportunity to "stop off at the silage pits to look at and smell the different varieties of silage". It's a bit like a vineyard tour where you get to sniff the bouquet of fine wines, except that it's nothing like that at all.

Newport is home to a board game café called Snacks and Ladders which opened in 2019.

If you're into this sort of thing, there are lots of specialist games with hundreds of cards and funny shaped dice. Younger visitors may prefer to stick to that one where you have to climb ladders and slide down snakes. I forget what it's called.

My advice is to let the youngest player win unless you want a tantrum in Newport town centre.

When I checked, it cost from £2 to play any game you like.

Snacks and Ladders was a finalist in the 'Best Small Attraction' category at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2022.

Younger girls that are into pink things, fairies and pixies (or boys, I'm not judging), may enjoy a visit to The Old Thatch Teashop in Shanklin. It is English tweeness turned all the way up to 11 with a thatched roof, garish pink walls and a well-kept 'fairy garden'. It is right in the middle of Shanklin's olde village, which is pretty twee in itself.

Thanks to Rachel for getting in touch and recommending it.

Comicoffee in Newport or Cowes is the place to take children if they are into superheroes and comic books.

It's another café that gets outstanding reviews and has been nominated for prizes at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards. The first Comicoffee opened in 2018. Back in 2022 we enjoyed saying that "they've had a Fantastic Four years" but that joke doesn't work any more (Ed: it didn't ever work very well...).

Parkhurst Forest is a good-sized forest and is also a popular spot for seeing red squirrels in a specially built 'hide'.

There aren't a huge number of child-friendly things to do, but if you're one of those parents who went hiking when your children were still in nappies then you might like it. You can read about our visit to the red squirrel hide.

Firestone Copse near to Ryde is another good-sized woodland on the Isle of Wight.

Other notable woodland on the Isle of Wight include Brighstone Forest (West Wight), Borthwood Copse (near Sandown) and America Wood (near Shanklin).

There's also a small woodland at Fort Victoria near Yarmouth that is alongside a beach so you get glimpses of ships sailing past the trees.

Meanwhile...there's a rather famous and unusual tree in Brighstone that occupied us for half an hour.

The Dragon Tree was voted as the UK's third best tree in a Woodland Trust competition in 2019. Let's not worry about the two trees which beat it, since they aren't on the Isle of Wight.

It's actually an oak tree which seems to be growing sideways across a stream. When we visited, the stream was shallow enough for wellies and it had a tyre swing. You can find it along footpath number BS23, just off New Road in Brighstone.

The National Poo Museum is a celebration of all things turdy which is sporadically open at Sandown Barrack Battery. Prepare yourself for sniggering and poo-related puns with remnants from safari animals and ancient humans amongst retro toilet seats and educational bits about the power of poo.

​Stop giggling at the back.

Slap on your lycra, perm your hair and get yourself down to the Isle of Wight's roller disco in Newport. Don't worry, it is self aware and retro rather than further evidence that the Isle of Wight is stuck in the past.

There are sessions for beginners as well as disco nights. It costs about £5-£10 depending on whether you bring your own skates or borrow theirs.

Meanwhile, Canopy Skatepark in the South Wight offers one-off taster sessions for absolute beginners.

I would normally avoid stately homes with children as they'll be bored to tears and will do their best to embarrass you.

However, we enjoy trips to Appuldurcombe House with children so I think it's worth a mention as a bit of a curveball.

It's mostly a ruin and is rarely busy so it's ideal for exploring or hide and seek. There are no guides telling you to shush and no rare vases for your children to knock over. There's plenty of green space around it and trees for climbing.

It only filled about an hour for us but it's free, so you can incorporate it into a visit to somewhere nearby such as the Donkey Sanctuary or Ventnor seafront.

If you're travelling from Newport to (West) Cowes you may like to stop off at Crockers Farm Dairy, known locally as Old McDonalds Drive Thru ( Ed: I'm pretty sure you just made that up). They sell farm-produced milkshakes from a vending machine. They do the usual flavours, but they also have a guest flavour each month. At the time of writing it is biscotti and raspberry.

Parents, feel free to quote the milk advert from the 1980s which includes the line "Accrington Stanley? Who are they?".

This one is pretty niche and I would strongly advise you to consult with your spouse before booking this...

Forest School Isle of Wight offers Ray Mears-style family survival sessions which 'will have you working together as a team to make sure you survive till help arrives'. The idea is that you are marooned on an Island or have crashed in the wilderness.

Survival is about as much as I hope for on most family day outs, but perhaps that's just me.

43. Laser Quest

If your children are throwing objects at each other in the caravan, then it may be time to channel that aggression. Your best option is probably Laser Quest in Ryde, which is for age 6+ and a minimum height of 1.1m.

There's also archery and axe throwing at Tapnell Farm but both of those are for ages 11+, presumably because some government jobsworth reckons that throwing an axe can be a little dangerous. Honestly, next they'll be telling us we can't sell flamethrowers to toddlers (Ed: have you been writing letters to the Daily Mail again?).

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40 Activities For Children And Families On The Isle Of Wight 2024

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40 things to do with children on an Isle of Wight holiday with ideas for family friendly days out, including cycling, swimming, beaches, castles and crazy golf

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Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

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Vision 4 Youth - Yateley Based Youth Charity

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Vision 4 Youth is a charity based in Yateley that provides youth clubs, services & training. We're dedicated to helping young people reach their potential.