GOOD HOPE, Ala. — When you become a parent, countless decisions fall onto your plate. Which car
seat should you pick? Breastfeed or formula feed? Cloth diapers or disposables? As the adage says,
“You can do everything ’right’ and they’ll still eat the french fry off the minivan floor.” Some choices
are fleeting, soon forgotten. Others, however, are momentous and merit thorough consideration.
Childcare stands out as a paramount decision. Who will watch your child while you work? Can they
offer the same tender care and affection you provide? For those fortunate to have Ashlee Wright and
Little Blessings Preschool as an option, the answer is a resounding ”yes.”
Founded in 2014, Little Blessings Preschool emerged from a mother’s concerns. Wright said she sought
more than the status quo for her son’s preschool experience. She envisioned an environment in which
her child wasn’t just a statistic but could learn at his unique pace, free from the confines of
standardized education. Not finding a suitable establishment in her vicinity, Wright embarked on her
own journey, transforming her maternal aspirations into a thriving preschool.
Little Blessings, she explained, champions the Montessori philosophy, catering to infants and children
from 6 weeks to kindergarten. Wright and her team incorporate a Montessori-inspired curriculum,
emphasizing individual-paced learning.
“I don’t believe in standardized testing. I believe education should be fun. Education should not be just books and tablets. Just because you don’t test well doesn’t mean you’re not smart,” Wright remarked.
She said simple occurrences can evolve into lessons on nutrition, anatomy, science, sound and even
olfaction. Introducing Montessori principles between birth and age 5 reaps numerous benefits,
fostering creativity, curiosity, language development and motor skills.
Vibrant handprints and art pieces decorate the premises, while crafty hot air balloons and paper plate
fish dangle from above, promoting coordination, color recognition, shapes and group creativity.
Wright doesn’t adhere to a rigid curriculum, favoring organic, play-based learning. She equates the
Montessori method to ”planting seeds.” Children, when learning at their pace, internalize information
more effectively, often outpacing peers, she said. “I am moving one kid up six months early, because he’s ready. You can’t do that in a traditional school setting,”
Research corroborates the effectiveness of Montessori environments in equipping children academically and socio-emotionally for life’s challenges.
Wright said she prioritized nurturing socio-motional skills when devising her “learning through play” syllabus.
“Yes, we want to learn our numbers and our colors and all our alphabet,” she said, “but, we want to learn to be a happy, kind person and we want them to know they are loved, and I think that’s where we shine.”
Her dedication resonates with parents. Of her 21 current enrollees, over three-fourths are from
families committed to her for multiple years and across different children. “We cherish our role in
their community,” she said.
The passionate team at Little Blessings mirrors Wright’s love for their wards.
“I truly love every one of our teachers here. I trust them completely. They love these babies. We talk about every one of these children more than we talk about our own. We love these babies. I’m so proud of the team we have, and I am so proud of what we have built here.”
Visit Little Blessings Preschool at 1380 County Road 437, in Good Hope, or call 256-735-4177.
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