San Francisco · Est. by Parents, for Children

The childhood
they deserve
starts right here

A family-founded program where children are truly known, deeply nurtured, and prepared for everything ahead.

State Licensed· Degree-Holding Educators· Family-Founded· Organic Meals Daily

Two exceptional paths.
One guiding philosophy.

Both programs were designed around one question:
"Would this be good enough for our own daughters?"

Not sure which program is right? We'll guide you in 60 seconds.
Bianca & Bryan Haberek
Bianca Haberek reading to children
Bianca
“Built for our daughters first.”
A.S. Child Development Early Childhood Theory Developmental Psychology
Bryan Haberek with a child
Bryan

When they
couldn’t find it,
they built it.

Their full story

Hungry Caterpillars began while we were expecting our first daughter. Childcare was already part of our lives. Bryan grew up watching his mother care for children for decades, building a program rooted in love, structure, and trust. That experience shaped how we understand what young children truly need.

As we prepared to start our own family, we imagined what that kind of care could look like for our daughters and for families like ours. We wanted a place led by people who were not only trained in child development but who were also parents themselves, people who understand the worries, questions, and hopes that come with leaving your child in someone else’s care.

So we built it, first for our daughters and then for the community we love, right here in the city where we were born and raised. Hungry Caterpillars is our way of continuing a family tradition of caring for children, carried forward with new energy, new ideas, and the same heart behind it.

Every decision made
with intention.

Intentionally Small Groups

Your child is never a number here. Our small-group model means educators genuinely know each child — their quirks, their pace, their brilliance.

Educated, Experienced Staff

Academic training meets real-world parenting experience. Our team approaches child development with both rigor and warmth.

Research-Based Practices

Montessori. Reggio Emilia. Developmental psychology. We draw from the best of what the field has learned, adapted for our community.

Organic Meals, Every Day

Nourishment is education too. Fresh, organic meals prepared daily — because what children eat matters as much as what they learn.

Nature & Real-World Exploration

Children learn through experience. Outdoor adventures, sensory play, and real-world discovery are woven into every day.

Radical Transparency

You should always know what's happening with your child. Open, honest communication with families isn't a feature — it's foundational.

"Would this be good enough
for our own children?"
— The question behind every decision at Hungry Caterpillars

The earliest years
shape everything.
Let's make them extraordinary.

Two locations. Two programs. One unwavering commitment to your child.