In the end, she kept coming back to a word she believes defines all children -- tenderhearted.
Thus was born Tenderhearts Preschool, Dracut Economic Development’s Business of the Month for April 2024.
That was back in 1999 when Barbie was just starting her business and looking for a name. In 2024 – on November 20, to be exact – Tenderhearts Preschool will mark 25 years in existence. And Barbie doesn’t see an end in sight. In fact, she’s thinking about expansion.
“I honestly can’t see myself retiring,” Barbie said. “I’ll do this as long as my body allows it.”
Barbie has always loved children. So at age 28, with her own four kids all in school, she decided to open her own preschool.
“I started babysitting when I was 9, and even as a preteen, I would always play with the younger kids in the neighborhood,” she said. “I’ve just always loved kids. Then I took Early Education at Greater Lowell Tech. I became a dental assistant for a few years, but then I had carpal tunnel. My doctor said I couldn’t work in the dental field anymore. That’s when I started looking into opening my own family child care.
“I really wasn’t sure that I would be able to run my own business, but it came very naturally.”
She started Tenderhearts Preschool on Iona Avenue, in the Greenmont Avenue neighborhood of Dracut. In 2010, she and husband Steven moved their family across town to 1484 Mammoth Road, where Tenderhearts remains.
Not that you’d know it driving by. Barbie doesn’t have a sign in the yard to advertise her preschool. She doesn’t need to. She’s licensed by the state for 10 students, and the waiting list stretches to the Pelham line.
Which brings us to the possibility of expansion.
With a maximum of 10 children, aged 18 months to 4 years, she’s not averse to renting a space in town to allow for more students.
Barbie has two licensed, full-time assistants – Elaine Hanvey and Rachael Richard – and one part-time, as-needed assistant, though that employee, Mariela Perez, will often come in “even when she’s not needed because she loves it so much,” Barbie said.
Tenderhearts is a preschool first and a day care second. Barbie and her staff teach the children for the first part of the day, then offer extended day care until 5 p.m., giving working parents the ability to drop kids off in the morning, head to work, and pick them up in the afternoon.
It’s the teaching part that Barbie loves.
“The biggest thing is when they have that aha moment,” she said, “when you see they learned something you’ve been teaching them -- when they finally get it, and you can see it on their face.”
That could explain Tenderhearts’ slogan: “Where children love to learn.”
It may also explain why Tenderhearts received the Private Education Award for Most Nurturing Children’s Day School for 2023.
It certainly explains the waiting list and why, though most of her students are from Dracut, Lowell or Pelham, some parents have brought their children from as far as Woburn and Lexington because they work in or near Dracut and have heard great things about Tenderhearts Preschool.
And, finally, it explains why Barbie has remained friendly with many of the more than 200 former students who have called Tenderhearts their home away from home.
“I’ve been invited to birthday parties, dance recitals, school plays,” Barbie said. “There’s a group of about five of us that get together once every few months or so. I’m getting the children of former students now.”
In addition to the 10 kids who are in her care at any given time, Barbie also has 15 grandchildren. So it’s a good thing she loves kids.
“I like knowing I’m making a difference in their lives,” she said. “I love what I do.”
CAPTIONS
1: The staff at Tenderhearts Preschool includes, from left, Rachael Richard, owner Barbie Bergstrom, Elaine Hanvey and Mariela Perez. (DRACUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PHOTO)
2: Part of Tenderhearts Preschool’s mission is to assist students in developing skills “that will help lay the foundation needed for future school success and support the development of a lifelong love of learning.” (COURTESY TENDERHEARTS PRESCHOOL)
3: Part of Tenderhearts Preschool’s mission is to have students “participate in tasks that are open-ended, engaging and meaningful, both indoors and outdoors.” (COURTESY TENDERHEARTS PRESCHOOL)
4: Snack time at Tenderhearts Preschool (COURTESY TENDERHEARTS PRESCHOOL)
5: Students at Tenderhearts Preschool learn while having fun. (COURTESY TENDERHEARTS PRESCHOOL)
6: Tenderhearts Preschool at 1484 Mammoth Road (GOOGLE EARTH PHOTO)
7. A parent had this plaque made for Barbie Bergstrom and the staff at Tenderhearts Preschool. (DRACIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PHOTO)