About us

Rooted in Malaysia Connected to the World

At Children's Garden, we nurture every child’s growth, creativity, and confidence in a safe and inspiring environment.

Children’s Garden was founded with a simple belief: every child deserves a space to explore, learn, and flourish. Since our inception, we have focused on creating programs that cater to each child’s unique strengths and interests, encouraging both academic and social development.

With a team of passionate educators and caregivers, we build meaningful relationships with children and families, ensuring that every day is an opportunity for discovery, friendship, and lasting memories.

Follow the Child

Every child develops according to an inner timetable. Adults observe rather than direct, offering guidance only when needed.

Independent & Autonomy

Education encourages children to take responsibility for their own work, decisions, and care of themselves and their surroundings.

Prepared Environment

Spaces designed for exploration and growth. Environment is a calm, child-friendly space where everything is easy to reach.

Collaboration

Mixed-age groups encourage peer learning . This creates a caring, cooperative community where everyone grows together.

Vision

At Children’s Garden, we envision a world where every child grows with wonder, confidence, and kindness — rooted in the freedom to explore, the joy of discovery, and the beauty of becoming their truest self.

 

We see our School, as a living garden of childhood, where each seed of curiosity blossoms into wisdom, compassion, and purpose, nurtured by the harmony of Malaysia’s diverse culture and the timeless guidance of Montessori education.

Mission
At the heart of Children’s Garden, our belief that every child is born with infinite potential. From the infant’s first smile to the pre-adolescent’s growing independence, we prepare an environment where hands work, hearts connect, and minds awaken.

We are committed to:

 

  • Creating a peaceful, nurturing space where children feel seen, loved, and respected.
  • Guiding each child to discover the joy of learning through freedom, purpose, and meaningful exploration.
  • Building a community of parents, educators, and children who learn and grow together in trust and love.
  • Celebrating Malaysia’s rich cultural tapestry while embracing global Montessori principles that unite all humanity.

When education begins with the heart, the child’s whole being blossoms!

Meet the Teachers

Experts in giving your children best start

Dr Darla Ferris Miller

Advisory Board

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Ms Qiu Tian

Advisory Board

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Dr Jesmine Lok

Co Founder & Head of School

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Ms Jeniffer Lee

Co Founder & Operation Lead

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Ms Linda Xie

Head of Mandarin’s Guide

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Join Our Team

Give Your Child the Gift of Discovery

Join Children's Garden today and watch your child grow, explore, and thrive in a safe and inspiring environment.

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Dr. Darla Ferris Miller

Dr. Darla Ferris Miller is author of the seminal birth to twelve textbook, Positive Child Guidance, currently in its eighth edition.  This foundational text is used in numerous college courses in the United States and internationally. 

 

She has fostered exemplary Montessori Infant and Toddler care and education in the United States, Canada, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

Her BA degree is from Baylor University, and her Ph.D. and MA are from The University of Houston.  She holds American Montessori Society credentials at both the Infant and Toddler and Early Childhood Levels.

Dr. Darla has served as a global advocate for families, young children, and Montessori education in her roles as college vice president, professor, textbook author, Montessori teacher, Montessori school head, Montessori teacher educator, consultant, and nonprofit board member. She serves as a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS) Board of Directors.

Ms Qiu Tian

Qiu Tian is an education researcher and learning science communicator who focuses on helping parents and educators better understand how children learn and grow. She studied Psychology at Brown University and later completed graduate studies in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

During her academic training, she worked in psychology research laboratories at leading universities including Harvard University, Stanford University, and Tsinghua University, where she participated in research on child development, learning motivation, attention, and how children build learning habits.

Today, Qiu Tian focuses on translating research from psychology and learning sciences into practical ideas that parents and teachers can apply in everyday life. Her work often explores topics such as how to nurture children’s curiosity, develop concentration, build intrinsic motivation, and create supportive learning environments at home and in school.

Through articles, talks, podcasts, and educational programs, she shares research-based insights in a clear and accessible way. Her goal is to help families create environments where children can grow with confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Dr Jesmine Lok

Dr Jesmine is an internationally respected Montessori educator and educational leader with over 20 years of experience working with children, educators, and families across the United States, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to authentic Montessori practice, child development, and culturally responsive education.

Jesmine holds American Montessori Society (AMS) Diplomas in Infant & Toddler (0–3) and Early Childhood (2.5–6), as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University, USA. She completed her Doctorate in Comparative Education at Beijing Normal University, where her research focuses on children’s agency, the pedagogy of play, and comparative early childhood classroom practices.

She spent a decade at an AMS-accredited Montessori school in Boston, serving in both classroom and leadership roles, where she developed a strong foundation in Montessori fidelity, reflective teaching, and family–school partnerships. Over the past ten years in Asia, Jesmine has supported schools and educators in building high-quality Montessori environments that honor both global standards and local cultural contexts.

Jesmine is the Founder of Beijing AiSee Education and Once and Twice Child Development Center, organizations dedicated to Montessori teacher development, leadership training, and parent education across Asia. She also serves as the AMS Asia Operations Consultant, supporting professional learning, conferences, and community building throughout the region.

In addition to her Montessori credentials, Jesmine has completed training with the Pikler Foundation in Budapest, deepening her expertise in infant–toddler development, respectful caregiving, and relationship-based practice. She is a frequent speaker at international Montessori and early childhood conferences and a co-author of 《Montessori Begins at Home》 with Dr. Marlene Barron and 《Understanding Infant Toddler》 with Pikler practitioners in China.

As an educational leader, Jesmine believes that children thrive when adults—educators and parents alike—learn together. Her leadership is guided by a strong commitment to respect for the child, collaboration with families, and the creation of joyful, meaningful learning environments.

Ms Jeniffer Lee

Jeniffer Lee graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, majoring in Human Resources and Industrial Relations. While her academic training provided her with a strong foundation in management and organizational development, her greatest inspiration came from her role as a mother of four children.

Through raising her children, Jeniffer developed a deep appreciation for child-led learning and holistic development. She strongly believes in the principles of Montessori education, which emphasize independence, curiosity, and hands-on experiences as essential elements for children’s growth.

Her passion for experiential learning led her to organize and guide educational excursions for children aged 4 to 12 years old. Over the years, she has brought children on meaningful learning journeys across Malaysia, Australia, Japan, China, and other destinations, allowing them to explore nature, experience different cultures, and learn beyond the classroom.

Inspired by these experiences, Jeniffer co-founded Children Garden Academy and Natural Diversity with the vision of creating environments where children can grow through exploration, creativity, and connection with nature. Her mission is to nurture confident, curious, and compassionate young learners by providing meaningful opportunities for discovery and real-world learning.

Ms Linda Xie

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 

Master of Education (M.Ed.), Currently Pursuing
SEGi University, Malaysia
Expected Graduation: 2028

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education
Beijing Normal University, China

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 

Master of Education (M.Ed.), Currently Pursuing
SEGi University, Malaysia
Expected Graduation: 2028

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education
Beijing Normal University, China

CREDENTIALS

  • 2023 — AMS for China ELFP 1st Cohort graduate
  • 2015 — Eton kids Montessori Teacher Training Academy, Beijing China (EMTTA) AMS Early Childhood Credential 2 ½ -6
  • 2013 — The State Educational Commission, Beijing China National Principal Certificate
  • 2009 — The State Educational Commission, China National Teacher Certificate

ADULT EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS 讲座

  • May 2020 (current) — Online teaching on integration of language arts with Government guidelines
  • November 2019 — Parents’ workshop at Xinhe Montessori Children’s Home, Shaoxing, China
    Workshop Topic: Support your child’s development
  • October 2019 — Parents’ workshops at Chengdu Montessori School, Chengdu, China
    Workshop Topic: Independence Training
  • June 2019 — Foshan New Abadan International Montessori School, Foshan, China
    Workshop Topic: The Importance of Observation
  • April 2019 — Parents’ workshop at Yilin Montessori Kindergarten, Anhui, China
    Workshop Topic: The Influence of Adult Behaviors on Children
  • September 2018 — Parents’ workshop at Hohhot Electric Home Children’s Home
    Workshop Topic: Children’s Habits
  • June 2018 — Parents’ workshop at Shanglin Kindergarten, Oreos, China.
    Workshop Topic: Montessori Teaching Method
  • October 2017 — Leaderjoy Teacher Training, YiWu, China
    Workshop Topic: Teacher Training on Montessori Basic 101
  • July 2017 — Beijing Oriental Cambridge Educational Group, Beijing, China
    Workshop Topic: Teacher Training on Cosmic Education
  • February 2016 — Weiguo Educational Group, Suzhou, China
    Workshop Topic: Teacher Training on Montessori Basic 101
  • October 2015 — Teacher workshops at Eton kids Educational Group
  • June 2017 — Topic: Classroom Management & Montessori training integrated with educational goals 2015-2017          Parent Workshops at Eton kids Arcadia Campus
    Topics included: Montessori Education Overview, Montessori Teaching Method in the Classroom

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

American Montessori Society

WORKING EXPERIENCE

  • Mentors and trainers for children aged 2.5 to 6 at Southwest Aisi Education in Beijing. 
  • Montessori teaching supervisor and Parent-child Observation Course instructor at Derun Future Kindergarten. 
  • Teaching Supervisor and Project Leader for Parent-Child Observation Classes at Beijing Wanzi Tuanzi Experimental Garden. 
  • Former trainer at the Beijing Tongxin Tongyu Montessori Teacher Training Center. 
  • Director of the Montessori Yiwu Branch Center, Internship Coordinator, and visiting teacher for campus observations. 
  • Former trainer at the Australian Montessori Teacher Training Institute. 
  • American Montessori Society (AMS) International Certified Teacher for children aged 2.5 to 6. 
  • Member of the Emerging Leaders Program of the American Montessori Society. 
  • Over fifteen years of experience in Montessori classroom management. 
  • Served as a teacher, teaching supervisor, mentor for 3-6-year-old students, lead instructor for parent-child classes, and trainer. 

Dedicated to frontline teaching and educational research, focusing on integrating Montessori principles with the five core areas of kindergarten curriculum. Conducted curriculum research and practice for K-group programs.

With six years of experience, developed and implemented parent-child observation courses that combine the Emmi Pikler approach with the Maria Montessori philosophy.

Served as a teaching consultant across different regions in China, delivering lectures and training for parents and educators in Beijing and other cities. Continues to update teaching practices, research child development, and maintain an active writing practice.