Hope you like this 'Christmas Dementia Cafe Quiz', which focuses on 'Christmas Radio Times' covers. You can enliven it by playing some of the songs referred to ... Round 1. 1960s 1. Name the angel that told Mary she was "with child"? 2. What three gifts did the Magi bring Jesus? 3. Complete (and sing) the first line of this carol. "While shepherds watched their flocks by night ..."? 4. What is the name of the nativity scene replica many of us have on display at home? 5. Compl

Here are some suggested activities to dip into for a Christmas themed CST Group. Start the session by pulling a Christmas cracker together and putting on the hats and reading the jokes. DISCUSSION TOPICS Ask members the following questions, to promote discuss and recall. - Things you most like about Christmas? - The best or most memorable Christmas you ever had? - The best Christmas present you ever got? - The best Christmas present you ever gave? - Your favourite Christmas

Here is my latest offering. It's basically a Christmas Carol Concert with a quiz element included by way of an introductory photo to each Carol. Members have to try and figure out what each Christmas Carol might be from the clues provided in the cryptic or lateral thinking AI (ChatGPT) created photo image. Then the Carol is unlocked and it can be played. All Carols are lyric videos, so that your CST group members can engage in a good old fashioned singalong. The activity is p

Here is a new CST activity for Christmas celebrations - 'Celebrity TV Chefs At Christmas'. The idea is to show the images (maybe print them off) and ask members to name the Celebrity TV Chef and the Christmas dish they have prepared. Then ask them to answer the associated questions. For each round you might want to ask members to rate on the best and worst foods and discuss them generally. There is an associated YouTube video here (you could link to the songs and music clips

"Welcome, winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless." - Terri Guillemets "Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." - Edith Sitwell ❄️ 1. Welcome & Warm-Up Discussion prompts: • “What tells you that winter has arrived?” • “What do you notice it in the light, the air, or the sounds?” • “What did winter feel like when you were a

Why not check out my new CST practical activity video - Making a Thanksgiving Garland https://youtu.be/MyxXBPKp7Gw It’s easy to make, good fun 🤩 and you end up with a nice Thanksgiving & Christmas decoration. Simply get some string, print off some meaningful photographs, buy or make some autumn leave cutouts and you’re good to go. Download a Thanksgiving music playlist to play in the background during your make. Cheers 🥂

Here is a video vlog version of the Scotland CST activities blog especially designed for people with mild to moderate dementia living at home without access to a CST maintenance group, or not wishing to attend - https://youtu.be/zWlQSjusczM Please let your clients and their care partners know about it. Also likes & subscribes really help my YouTube channel algorithm, so please pay a visit.

"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life." Robert Louis Stevenson The 'Thanksgiving' holiday is always on the fourth Thursday of November, that is the 27th of this month. Hence this is the theme of this week's CST activity. Ask members ... - What are you most thankful for? - What is your happiest memory? - What is the lifetime achievement or decision you are most proud of? - Are there any regrets about missed opportuni

I put this picture quiz together by way of an art appreciation session. The idea is to print off the pictures and put them on the tables without the names (or show them via slide show), then ask members to find the right painting from the list below. After this you could ask members to rate the painting or sculpture in order of their preference. Or you could run it as a straight question and answer picture quiz and discuss the paintings as you view them. A few songs are inter

Making a 'Paper Fortune Teller' (or "Cootie") is an easy and fun thing to do with your CST group. All the materials you need are thick paper, scissors and a colouring pen set. Really, it's a simple piece of origami, which you can make into beautiful artworks - don't forget to send photos of your in so they can be displayed in the 'Creative Arts Gallery'. If you look on-line there are several guides as to how to make one - here is a good example, with instructions and a printa

Here is a new game playing activity, based on reminiscence and storytelling. I've make a set of prompt cards for members to take turns in telling stories based on lifetime reminiscences and reflections. I've tried to keep prompts positive or humorous, coupled with idioms and photos which are interesting and support the questions. The cards probably need to be fine-tuned and I've probably missed a few, so please do give feedback in "Comments". Together we can make a really go

Here is a new video based Memory Quiz - "Momentous Events Of The 20th Century - 1950-1980". The idea is to watch the video with your group and pause at the start of every photo to guess at and discuss the "Momentous Event", which should live in their long-term memories. There is also a trivia-based question for each event/photo to answer together as a group. Then there is a substantial music clip for each event/photo to enjoy. After each decade there is an 'Answers' panel (an

It's time for another survey. It would be great if you could spend a few minutes completing this and giving some written feedback in the 'Comments' section below. (Alternatively, you can just email your feedback to simondementia@gmail.com ) In the 'Comments' section below, you could give written feedback such as "Most enoyable activities so far?", "Ideas for future activities pages" and any constructive criticism you wish to make. Also if your CST Group members wished to ma

🌍 World Kindness Day – “Little Acts, Big Hearts” 🗓 13th November 💛 Theme: Kindness, caring, and community 🌍 Simon’s Dementia CST Activities 🧠 "Boosting brain power together" ☕️ Support: www.ko-fi.com/simondementia ⸻ 🧠 Purpose To explore the meaning of kindness, recall personal memories of giving or receiving kindness, and celebrate how helping others boosts wellbeing. ⸻ 🗣 Warm-Up Discussion (10 mins) 💬 “What does kindness mean to you?” 💬 “When has someone done someth

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 CST Activities Page – Scotland & St Andrew’s Day Date: 30 November Theme: Celebrating Scottish culture, music, landscapes & traditions 🧠 Conversation Starters Have you ever visited Scotland? Which part or places? ( What do you think of when you hear the word “Scotland”? Do you know anyone with Scottish roots or a Scottish surname? How do you think people celebrate 'St Andrew’s Day'? What’s your favourite Scottish food or drink? Before starting, a reminder t

🦕 DINOSAURS – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME CST Activity Theme: Science • History • Discovery Tagline: “Exploring the world before us!” 🧠 1. INTRODUCTION & CONVERSATION STARTERS Ask the group: What do you think of when you hear the word dinosaur ? Can you name any dinosaurs? Have you ever seen dinosaur fossils in a museum? Have you ever seen fossils in the wild? Which animals today remind you of dinosaurs? Dinosaur footprint found at Sully in South Wales 📜 2. A BRIEF HISTORY Di

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and i

"Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder treason and plot. We see no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot! Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent To blow up king and parliament. Three score barrels were laid below To prove old England's overthrow. By God's mercy he was catch'd With a darkened lantern and burning match. So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring. Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king. And what shall we do with him? Burn him!"

🎄 DECEMBER 2025 – UK & WORLD EVENTS CALENDAR Holidays • Festivals • Awareness Days • Regional Occasions (Perfect for CST discussion, reminiscence & planning) 🗓️ Month-long Themes 🎁 Safe Toys & Gifts Month 👨‍🦱 Decembeard (men’s health) 👁️ Gift of Sight Month  🌍 Universal Human Rights Month 🗣️ Learn a Foreign Language Month 📅 Key Dates Mon 1 Dec - 🌈 World AIDS Day Mon 1 Dec - 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 St Andrew’s Day (Scotland) Tues 2 Dec - 💖 Giving Tuesday Tues 2 Dec - ✊ Inter

🧠 Then & Now – CST Activity Theme: Everyday life through the decades Tagline: “Exploring how times have changed — and what’s stayed the same.” Duration: 45–60 minutes Best for: Mixed groups or pairs Equipment: Printed “Then & Now” photo sheets (e.g., Entertainment, Food, School, Shopping, Fashion & Celebrities), whiteboard or flipchart, optional music clips. 🟢 Aims Stimulate long-term memory and storytelling. Encourage discussion about how daily life, technology, and ha