The what? Yes, the scissor mystery—one of the many little quirks that keep life interesting at Breadfruit House.
When I started my first program, I had a perfect set of 10 child-friendly scissors. You know the ones: dull, almost incapable of cutting, and thus suitable for little hands. They have their home in their blue container, five blue and five red. Over the years, I’ve made it a point to count them carefully after each session, especially when visiting schools.
But here’s the mystery: I now have six blue scissors and four red ones—still 10 in total, just with a surprising color switch! My only explanation is that somehow, along the way, the colors got swapped at school. It’s just one of many small mysteries that keep me on my toes.
The marker puzzle.
Markers are a favorite material for younger children—they use them for just about everything. Before each session, I remind them: “Every marker must have its top. Markers without tops dry out, especially in this hot climate.”
And yet, without fail, I end up with a pile of markers missing their tops… and a separate pile of tops that don’t match any marker! It’s a weekly puzzle that I can’t solve: how do the tops and markers mismatch so perfectly, every single time?
In a way to prevent half of the markers dry out, I have banned markers altogether, with my group of 5- and 6-year-olds. Instead, I bring loads of crayons and coloring pencils. Sharing is part of the fun; learning to share and wait their turn is one of my strategies to teach collaboration. It’s not always easy, but it works.
Finding the right materials.
“Ms., I need a red crayon!”
“Ms., I saw some gold paper—can you help me find it?”
A thousand questions every session, all from eager little artists! My response is always the same: “You know where everything is, just go look for it. If someone is using the glue stick, ask them for it or wait your turn.”
In one session, we make “rockfish,” inspired by Linda Kranz’s book “Only One You” (for her website click here). It’s a big hit among all my groups. They love arts and crafts, and they all want to sit right next to me. I consider that the biggest compliment.
For some quieter children, being in a big, noisy group can feel overwhelming. I can relate. I was that shy child who blended into the background. That’s why I encourage the more energetic kids to lower their volume and give the quieter ones space to explore.
Even small steps, like finding materials by themselves, help build confidence. Over time, those tiny moments add up, and you start to see these children shine in ways that are so beautiful to witness.
Being different is wonderful.
In Dominica, as in most places, the school system follows the same structure for everyone. This can be challenging for children who learn in different ways.
One school I work with includes children on the autism spectrum in regular classrooms. I think this is beautiful. It benefits everyone: the children feel included, and their classmates learn to appreciate differences.
How boring would the world be if we all looked the same and liked the same things? I often ask the children to think about what it means to be different. Recently, we did an activity where they drew pictures of themselves and me. We all look different on the outside, but deep down, we’re the same—and the results of their drawings always warm my heart.
To me, being different is a gift. There’s so much beauty and wisdom in diversity.
Supporting our mission.
Breadfruit House exists because of the generosity of our donors and supporters. Since becoming a registered nonprofit in the Netherlands in 2017, we’ve come so far—thanks to you.
I’m working on our next newsletter to keep you updated. If you have not signed up yet, this is the link to subscribe.
And as always, thank you for your support. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference. Together, we’re empowering the children of Dominica to embrace who they are and take on the world with confidence.
Final thought: I hope the scissor mystery made you smile like it has done me.
