Highlights
- The centre combines order, safety, and a child-centred atmosphere
- Programmes gradually build independence without pressure or academic stress
- Music, art, sensory, and imaginative play develop cognitive, motor, and social skills
- Passionate, well-trained caregivers provide consistent, loving attention
- Honest communication and guidance empower parents in early childhood development
When Choo Choo Train Baby & Child Care Centre reopened its doors at the new Dana 1 Commercial Centre in Ara Damansara, it didn’t just move into a bigger, brighter space, it stepped confidently into its next chapter under the steady, loving guidance of Centre Manager Ms. Ivy Goh. With 14 years of childcare experience, Ivy carries with her a rare blend of heartfelt passion, deep expertise, operational excellence, and a mother’s instinct – qualities that now define this refreshed centre.
Parents who walk through the centre today instantly feel the difference. It is warm, orderly, beautifully structured, and above all, deeply child-centred.
A Leader Built by Experience, Driven by Purpose
Ivy’s journey into early childhood education began from personal experience. As a young mother navigating separation anxiety with her own children, she found herself helping out at their preschool. What started as volunteering evolved into a meaningful career driven by purpose, passion, and a calling to nurture young lives.
Over 14 years, Ivy has served as class teacher, subject teacher, music and creative arts educator, school event organiser, Head of School, and even played key roles in setting up infant care programmes in various centres. Her qualifications include:
- Basic Childcare Certificate (2011, recognised under Childcare Centre Regulations 2012)
- Professional courses in Early Childhood Education and Childcare Management (MOE)
- Bronze Medallion in Life-Saving, First Aid & CPR certification
- Active open-water and masters swimmer, ensuring strong crisis-management instincts
Today, Ivy brings all this experience into Choo Choo Train Ara Damansara – raising the centre’s standard of care with a level of professionalism and attentiveness that parents consistently praise.
A Centre Built on Structure, Warmth, and Child-Ready Preparation
At Choo Choo Train, Ivy emphasises what truly matters in a child’s first four years: milestones, confidence, independence, routine, and emotional security.
These make the children well-prepared for kindergarten. Under Ivy’s leadership, the centre excels in Choo Choo Train’s signature approach:
1. Arts-Enhanced Learning Method
Children learn through music, storytelling, art, sensory play, messy play, roleplay, and imaginative experiences that naturally develop cognitive, motor, language, and social skills.
2. Clear Progression from Ages 0–4
The programmes are structured to gradually build independence without pressure, worksheets, or academic stress.
- Choo Choo Cuddle (0 – 6 months): Focuses on sensory stimulation, massage, and early social interactions to help babies feel comfortable with the world around them.
- Choo Choo Explorer 1 (7 – 12 months): Helping babies to crawl, stand, talk, and engage with books, weaning, and other developmental milestones.
- Choo Choo Explorer 2 (13 – 18 months): Encourages independence while developing communication, cognitive, and motor skills.
- Choo Choo Explorer 3 (19 – 24 months): Helps children transition to more advanced skills, including preparing them for potty training and fostering independence in daily routines.
- Choo Choo Discoverer (25 – 36 months): Introduces structured learning with subjects like language, mathematics, science, and social development through play.
- Choo Choo Quest (36 – 48 months): Prepares children for kindergarten/preschool, ensuring they are both happy and intellectually ready for the next stage.
3. A Gentle, Effective Kindergarten-Readiness Pathway
With Ivy’s kindergarten background, she ensures every 4-year-old is emotionally prepared, behaviourally stable, socially confident and academically ready for the next stage.
Parents often return with happy news:
“The kindergarten teachers asked where my child came from—they’ve never seen such good behaviour and readiness!”
This, Ivy says, is the real marker of success.
Safety, Hygiene & Organisation: Raised to A Higher Standard
One of Ivy’s strongest contributions is her meticulous approach to safety and cleanliness, especially crucial for babies and toddlers.
Clean Air & Clean Spaces
- Air-purified rooms
- Daily cleaning, monthly fumigation, and annual antimicrobial coating
- Strict hygiene routines for diapering, feeding, and sanitisation
In-House Nutritious Meals (A Major USP)
Unlike many centres that outsource food, Ivy ensures all meals are freshly cooked in-house, free from fast food, salt, sugar, and processed items.
Menus are curated by a qualified nutritionist, something many parents don’t know until Ivy explains it during tours.
Strong Safety Framework
- Centre fully equipped with CCTV
- Teachers trained in First Aid & Infant CPR
- Close adherence to JKM regulations, including capacity limits and strict documentation
- Ivy personally walks the centre every 30 minutes to check on every child and caregiver
These are not just SOPs, they are Ivy’s way of showing that children must always be safe, seen, and cared for.
Building Trust with Parents: Transparent, Honest, and Always Present
Parents describe Ivy as warm but firm, experienced but humble, strict but loving. She prioritises trust through consistency and clear communication:
- Daily updates through the centre’s communication app
- Honest conversations about child development and behaviour
- Immediate reporting of bruises, scratches, or minor injuries (complete with photos)
- Gentle guidance for parents on screen-time control, nutrition, routines, and settling-in expectations
Her approach is refreshing:
“I cannot promise your child won’t cry. But I can promise they will settle in, at their own pace, and we will walk with them through it.”
Her honesty earns deep trust from parents and her team as well.
A Team Cultivated with Passion and Heart
At Choo Choo Train Ara Damansara, Ivy believes passion – not just qualifications – is what makes an exceptional caregiver. “My caregivers must love children. You can see it instantly in how they comfort, respond, and handle challenges,” she says. While NICCE and PERMATA certifications remain important, Ivy strengthens her team through ongoing training, annual HQ refreshers, and daily guidance. She cultivates a supportive, politics-free environment where warmth and accountability go hand in hand. By nurturing her team with trust and clarity, Ivy ensures they, in turn, care for the children with genuine love, patience, and dedication.
A Vision for the Future
Ivy aims to expand Choo Choo Train Ara Damansara so more families can experience its nurturing, milestone-focused approach. Her vision is to build a community where young parents feel supported, informed, and confident in giving their children a gentle, meaningful start, with the centre serving as a trusted guide for early childhood development.
“Children grow at their own pace,” Ivy says. By promoting child-led learning and educating parents on the value of patience, love, and play, she hopes to create an environment where children feel safe and happy, parents feel reassured, and caregivers feel valued, fostering early childhood care rooted in compassion, understanding, and thoughtful guidance.
Where Families Find Trust, Comfort, and Heart
Under Ivy’s guidance, Choo Choo Train Ara Damansara has become a trusted choice for families seeking a warm, well-structured start for their little ones. With programmes for ages 2 months to 4 years and an Arts-Enhanced Learning approach, children grow, explore, and build independence through meaningful play.
Parents appreciate the cosy environment, small class sizes, nutritious in-house meals, and high hygiene standards. Ivy’s transparency, communication, and no-screen-time policy foster trust, as children gain confidence and readiness for kindergarten.
More than childcare, the centre nurtures each child with heart, celebrating milestones, supporting families, and standing out as one of Ara Damansara’s most dependable early childhood spaces. Try them out today and see how your child can thrive in a caring, inspiring environment.
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