'Vitamin C Day', April 4

🍊 Vitamin C Day – April 4

Vitamin C Day, celebrated on April 4, is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of this essential nutrient for our health and wellbeing. Found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables - especially citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits - vitamin C plays a key role in supporting the immune system, keeping skin healthy, and helping the body repair itself.

For people living with dementia, themes like food, colour, and familiar tastes can spark memories and conversation. Vitamin C Day is perfect for sensory and reminiscence activities - from talking about favourite fruits, to sharing recipes, to enjoying a glass of fresh orange juice together.

It’s also a cheerful, uplifting theme - bright colours, fresh flavours, and well-known songs (like “Oranges and Lemons”) can help create a positive, engaging session that encourages participation, connection, and enjoyment.

💡 CST Activity Ideas

• Name fruits rich in vitamin C

• Taste and compare citrus flavours

• Reminisce about school playground rhymes (Oranges and Lemons)

• Sing along to fruit-themed songs

• Discuss favourite puddings, jams, or home baking

🎵 CST Song Of The Day – Oranges and Lemons

Today’s CST Song Of The Day is the traditional nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons - a lively and familiar tune that has been passed down through generations. With its references to the bells of London churches, it can spark memories of childhood games, playground rhymes, and life in the city.

The rhythm and repetition make it ideal for group participation, encouraging singing along, clapping, or gentle movement. The mention of different places also offers a great opportunity for reminiscence and discussion - has anyone visited these areas, or remembers hearing church bells ringing?

Linking beautifully with Vitamin C Day, the theme of oranges and lemons brings in bright colours, familiar tastes, and sensory prompts - perfect for engaging conversation and boosting mood.

A simple, joyful song that combines music, memory, and meaningful connection. 🍊🍋

🍊 Sources & Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient found in many everyday foods, especially citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. It’s also found in strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and leafy greens - so there are plenty of colourful, tasty options to enjoy.

Vitamin C plays an important role in keeping the body healthy. It helps support the immune system, keeps skin and tissues strong by aiding collagen production, and acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from damage. It also helps the body absorb iron from food and can support wound healing.

For people living with dementia, talking about favourite fruits, meals, and shopping habits can help spark memories and conversation. Bright colours, familiar tastes, and simple choices make this a great theme for engaging, sensory-based activities.

A healthy, positive topic that combines nutrition, reminiscence, and enjoyment. 🍋🍓🥝

🔤 “Name As Many Things Beginning With the Letter C As You Can”

This simple and engaging word game encourages participants to think of as many words as possible beginning with the letter C. It’s a fun way to stimulate memory, language, and creativity, while keeping the activity light and enjoyable.

You can focus on different categories - such as foods (cake, carrot), animals (cat, cow), places (city, castle), or everyday objects (cup, clock) - to help prompt ideas and keep everyone involved. There’s no right or wrong answer, making it a confidence-boosting activity where everyone can contribute.

For people living with dementia, activities like this support word recall and communication skills, while also encouraging social interaction and laughter.

A simple, flexible activity that’s perfect for group sessions or one-to-one engagement.

🎶 Other Songs for Vitamin C Day

As well as Oranges and Lemons, there are many well-known songs that link to fruits, foods, and ingredients rich in vitamin C. From Strawberry Fields Forever to Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, these familiar tunes can spark memories, conversation, and enjoyment.

Using a variety of songs adds interest to your session and offers something for everyone - whether it’s singing along, tapping to the rhythm, or simply reminiscing about when they first heard the music. The food themes also provide great talking points about favourite meals, shopping habits, and traditional recipes.

For people living with dementia, combining music with familiar everyday items like fruit can help strengthen connections, encourage participation, and create a relaxed, social atmosphere.

A cheerful and engaging way to bring together music, memory, and meaningful conversation. 🍓🍎🍇