Holiday activities and dental caravans work together at Whanganui's Gonville Health

A first visit to a dental caravan came laden with fun for Whanganui children during these school holidays.

They were invited to four Spring Whānau Fun Days at Gonville Health. From10am to 3pm there were activities such as face painting, zumba, tākaro tawhito (traditional Māori games), rock painting and a sausage sizzle.

The last day is Tuesday, and the two dental caravans on site will be open until 4pm.

Taking time out from activities, the children and their parents could visit the dental caravans.

The aim was specifically to see the teeth of preschoolers, Whanganui District Health Board oral health project manager Felicity Spencer said.

"Once a child is at school, we pick them up."

While some children were getting their teeth checked yesterday,about 20 were busy making Star Wars paper lanterns in the health centre's community room.

The activity was led by Whanganui District Library senior children's librarian Jane Barlow.

The library's holiday activities start at 10am at either the Gonville or Davis libraries every week day in the school holidays. They are taking a Star Wars theme, Barlow said.

Last week the children watched a Star Wars film on Wednesday night. This week the movie at 6.30pm on October 10 will be Aliens Ate My Homework. The stories read at story time will be about space, aliens, stars and planets.

The fun days are a new initiative, from Whanganui District Health Board and the Whanganui Regional Health Network, partnering with Gonville Health.

Groups organising the activities include Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority, Playcentre, the Toy Library and Life to the Max.