Welcome to IOWparents - the 'one stop shop' for families on the Isle of Wight. Please sign up and join in the chat in our popular forum.
About us A small group of parents got together in May 2008 to help set up a comprehensive web site for residents and visitors to the Isle of Wight. A popular holiday destination, there are lots that the island can offer families of all ages and sizes for a week or two's entertainment. In addition, those of us lucky enough to be bringing up our children on the island wish to share our knowledge and resources and make new friends.
We are always looking for reviews of places to eat out with the family, favourite places to go with the kids and other sources of information including events to add to our NEWS section. Please submit your recommendations and reviews by selecting from the main menu. The site is constantly updated.
*NEWS*
25/04/10
THE BIG MUSICAL NAPPUCCINO
Thursday 29th April
11.15am-12.45pm
Wootton Community Centre
entry £2 per family, £1 for "bumps"
This exciting event is brought to you by the IW Real Nappy Network to celebrate Real Nappy Week 2010: Magic Movers will be there for a special half-hour music-and-movement session from 11.30am prompt; babies and toddlers can play recycled instruments; tea/coffee will be served at 12pm, and there will be a chance to chat to Niki and other real nappy users past and present, find out how switching to easy-to-use real nappies saves you real money, and learn more about the IW Real Nappy Network's free nappy trial scheme for Island parents and newborn nappy hire scheme.
21/03/10
A new Youth Gym session starts at West Wight Sports Centre. This will be a special session for young people aged from 14 upwards and will run every
weekday afternoon from 4.30 - 6.30 pm. Anyone wishing to take part will require an induction (even if they've used other gyms). This needs to be booked and can be done
at any time the gym is open (7 days a week) by making an appointment with any of the fitness instructors. The induction will cost £5.70 but after that each session will
cost £2.35.
14/07/09
Summer's here! So this is the iowparents guide to some of the best beaches on the island:
1. Totland Beach = Cafe, toilets, free parking, pebbled beach and easy walk to Colwell 2. Colwell Beach = Couple of cafes, shops selling toys and sports equipment, sandy beach but inaccessible at high tide 3. Cowes Beach = Pebbles, close to town, good to walk and kids to ride scooters 4. Appley Beach = Sandy, parking, ice-creams, playpark, cafe. Popular. 5. Puckpool = cafe, parking, sand, toilets, crazy golf, swings 6. Yaverland = car park, toilets, sand, great views 7. Sandown = Parking, pier, sand, toilets, trampolines 8. Ventnor = Parking, new toilets, paddling pool, cafes and shops, mixture of stones and sand 9. Grange Chine = No parking (walk from Brighstone), pebbles and sand, surfing, remote and unspoilt, fossil hunting 10. Compton = Parking, sandy, great views, surfing, ice cream van, toilets
14/07/09
The Island Dance and Theatre Company
Wednesday Totland Church Hall. The Broadway, Totland 3.30 - 4.00 Twinkletoes Pre-School Ballet from 2 and a half - 4 years 4.00 - 4.30 Wigglers Freestyle from 2 and a half - 4 years
Friday Totland Church Hall, The Broadway, Totland 3.30 - 4.00 Tippy Tappy Toes from 2 and a half - 4 years
Saturday Brading Primary School, West Street, Brading 10.45 - 11.15 Twinkletoes Preschool Ballet from 2 and a half - 4 years 11.15 - 11.45 Tippy Tappy Toes from 2 and a half - 4 years
We are one year old this month! To celebrate this we are adding new sections to the site - particularly places to take the family over the summer and the beaches we like to visit. Watch this space!
04/03/09
A new forum for you all to join! Rumpus Mansion is an unofficial forum for the discussion of Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill! Get in the mood for the summer.
19/02/09
JR Zone was visited by a few of us this afternoon - good time had by all, as always! Just to make you aware of a few changes to the pricing structure:
TODDLER MEMBERSHIP (termtime, 9-3pm) = £5pa and £2.50 per entry (reduced from £3.95 for non members) plus free squash etc
ANYTIME MEMBERSHIP (any day,any time!) = £10pa and £3 per entry, plus free squash etc
UNLIMITED MEMBERSHIP (any day, any time) = £120pa and FREE entry!
See their website for further details.
16/02/09
LITTLE KICKERS - approved football training for the under 5s
Little Kickers focus on social development using Football as the vehicle to promote learning. Classes are well organised and fun with an ethos of "play not push" and meet all the objectives set for pre school PE. Coaches are specifically trained to work with the under 5s and fully insured to work with this age group. Classes are fun and very active and allow the child to work independently of their carer. Little Kickers operate to Oftsed ratios with 2 coaches at each class and parents are asked to stay to support their Little Kicker. Places must be pre booked to ensure that correct coach player ratios are maintained.
Class available Ryde/Sandown/Newport/West Wight (£35 for 6 sessions) Call 01983 612753 (tharris@littlekickers.co.uk) for more information or to book your place. Classes are limited to 18 players per group so dont let your child be left on the bench!
Youth Sports Night. For young people in school years 7 and above. £2 admission. swimming, badminton, basketball, football, trampolining, either canoeing or snorkelling, waterwalkerz. 5.30 - 8.00 pm
Lifeguard training course. For young people and adults aged 16 and over. This is a one week course and is a pre-requisite to gaining employment in the leisure industry. The course runs for one week from Monday 9th February until Saturday 14th February.
Fencing. On Saturday mornings 9.00 - 10.00 we run a fencing for beginners class. This is for children of middle school age. The next course starts on 28th February.
Trampolining classes run every Tuesday afternoon in half term blocks. There is a class for Primary school age children and middle school age children. The next course starts on 24th February.
Half term activities. During half term swimming is free of charge. Also on offer will be snorkelling, canoeing, trampolining, benchball, basketball, raft racing, waterwalkerz, parent and baby swimming and fun hours.
Little Kickers Football. We 're working with Little Kickers and are hoping to be able to start a football session for pre-school children very soon. To register your interest ring 612753 or go to www.littlekickers.co.uk
Parent and Child swimming. On Thursday mornings 10 - 11 we run a structured session including games, songs and activities for pre-school children and their parent/carer.
Mini-movers is an introduction to gymnastics, trampolining and dance for pre-school children and runs 10.30 - 11.30 every Wednesday morning.
23/12/08
IOWparents are in the County Press promoting the 2009 calendar!
Family Christmas party this sunday! Details are on the forum.
24/11/08
IOWparents are producing a 2009 calendar - £2.50 from each will go to the Barely Born appeal for a new neo-natal unit at St Mary's Hospital. Order your copy!
28/10/08
Well done to iowparents members for raising over £100 for Breast Cancer Awareness! The group (photographed below) organised a Pink Party night in - and are already planning the next fundraising event at Christmas! This time it will be for the Help the Heroes charity. For more info, please join the forum
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A group of parents whose children have recently been diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder have recently decided that they would benefit by having a NAS branch to give parents and carers support by meeting regularly and by offering seminars/workshops, we have recently set up an online support group for those who are unable to attend meeting.
As a branch we will provide general information on autism and on the NAS services and wish to raise autism awareness across the Island. We aim to recruit new members and will be generating funds by fundraising. We seek to co-operate with local statutory and voluntary organisations where appropriate.
If you would like to attend a meeting, join the online Isle of Wight Autism Support Network or get involved please contact Louise Foley NAS IOW Branch Officer by either calling 07827 308768 or email isleofwight@nas.org.uk We look forward to hearing from you.
Welcome to IOWparents - the 'one stop shop' for families on the Isle of Wight. 
