I have always believed that leadership lessons come from the most unexpected places, but I never imagined one of my biggest reflections on leadership would come from a group of 3-year-olds on Red Colour Day.

It was Colour Week in our KG1 class of AY 2010-11, and the children had just finished a math activity on the pre-number concept of same and different. They were proudly showing how they could sort objects that looked alike and separate those that didn’t. Their excitement was contagious. I thought to myself, “What a perfect lead-in to our art activity. This should go smoothly.” I should have known better.

As the children prepared to begin their red-themed drawings—apples, fire trucks, strawberries, and even the occasional red dinosaur—a small but dramatic crisis unfolded.

“Ma’am, all the red crayons are gone!” a voice shouted across the room.

The classroom buzzed with commotion. Heads turned. Fingers pointed. Whispers filled the air. How could Colour Week possibly continue without red crayons? After all, how do you draw an apple without red, on Red Colour Day?

With my best detective face on, I decided to investigate. And sure enough, at one table sat a very serious-looking little boy, surrounded by what could only be described as a crayon fortress—every single shade of red stacked in front of him like prized possessions.

When I asked why he had collected them all, his answer left me both amused and thoughtful: “Because they all look the same… and families should stay together.”

The entire class erupted into giggles, and even I had to smile. Here we were, fresh from a math activity about same and different, and this child had applied the concept in the most literal (and creative) way possible.

But behind the humour, I realized there was a bigger lesson. Leadership is not about keeping everything for yourself, even if your reasoning is clever. Leadership is about making sure others have what they need to succeed. It is about recognizing that everyone has a picture to draw, a voice to share, and a story to tell.

So, the “red crayon family” was gently returned to the table crayon boxes, and the children carried on with their masterpieces. The apples turned out bright, the fire trucks bold, and yes, even the red dinosaur looked glorious.

That day, we celebrated more than just a colour—we celebrated the idea that sharing, fairness, and empathy are the true shades of leadership. Even in KG1, children can teach us that leadership begins with the smallest of actions: offering a crayon, giving others a chance, and ensuring that no one is left without colour on their page.

As I watched the class proudly display their drawings, I couldn’t help but be amazed. Who knew that a box of crayons could paint such a powerful leadership lesson? After all, true leaders don’t just draw their own picture—they make sure everyone else has a crayon too!