Caterpillar Casita

Our Teachers

Emily Nelson, Director

Caring for children has always been a natural part of who I am. My grandmother, my best friend and inspiration, ran a family child care in her home after immigrating from Spain. Growing up, her home was my favorite place to be. It was filled with warmth, joy, and love, and those memories continue to shape who I am today.

After high school, I spent nearly a decade as a nanny in Hillsborough and Burlingame. Each child I cared for during those years, still holds a special place in my heart. My passion for cooking led me to Graduate from Le Cordon Bleu, and a career as a professional chef. The last 7 years, I've worked as a pastry chef at Facebook/Meta HQ in Menlo Park.

Becoming a mother brought everything full circle. My son, O'Shea, has been my greatest teacher. His joyful spirit and resilience inspire me everyday. Through his journey with autism, I've learned the power of patience, connection, play, and the importance of nurturing every child's unique strengths. After much reflection, I decided to follow in my grandmother's footsteps and open Caterpillar Casita. A place where children can feel safe, loved and encouraged to grow happy and healthy. My goal is to create a home filled with creativity, good food, and heartfelt care, where little ones can thrive, explore, and truly feel at home

Testimonials

We are thrilled to hear that Emily is opening a day care! She is an absolute gem and anyone would be incredibly lucky to have their child attend Caterpillar Casita. I taught elementary school in the Hillsborough School District for almost 10 years before I had 3 children of my own. Emily came highly recommended by a family that went to the school I taught at. After watching her with my children I could see why they raved over her. We hired Emily as our nanny when my boys were 2 and 3 years old and she had been with my daughter from birth until she started kindergarten. She immediately became part of our family and cared for my children with as much love as we had for them. She took the initiative and went above and beyond to bring my children experiences in cooking, gardening, arts and crafts, etc. She took them on many outings to the park, her dad’s garden, the grocery store, and so much more. They are incredible kids now at the ages of 15, 14 and 11, and much of their good manners, respect, creativity, love for others, personal hygiene, etc., are attributed to what Emily taught them and reinforced for us as parents. My children absolutely adore her and never stop talking about how much they love her. They have asked, even in their teenage years, if they could have Emily back as a nanny. We miss her so much, but we’re very excited that she is able to share her incredible gifts with other children and their families. -Shelby Van Doren

“So many good memories from my childhood are with Emily. We would do a lot of baking together. She taught me to make the best banana muffins. My job was always to mash the bananas. Emily is kind and loving and I will never forget all the things she taught me. I love Emily SO much and I wish I could still be with her every day.” -Mollie Van Doren (age 11)

“Emily is the best! We had a really good friendship and she was always interested in the things that I loved. She did Lego’s with me and talked to me about dinosaurs, pirates, and everything I was interested in. She even made me a Smurf cake for my birthday when I liked Smurf’s. I had a major surgery when I was 4 years old and she came to visit me in the hospital and brought me a turtle stuffed animal that I still have today. She also helped take care of me when I got home from the hospital. I wish I could see her more often now. She still texts me sometimes and she is cool for watching my rugby highlights on Instagram. I miss her!” -Parker Van Doren (age 14)

“I’ll never forget Emily. She did a lot with me and my siblings. My favorite memory was when we set up a lemonade stand at the park. I used to give her a hard time about washing my hands, but I think we now have good manners and excellent hygiene because of her. She’s also a really good cook! The kids at her new daycare are going to love her!” -Trent Van Doren (age 15) When I look back on my time with Emily, I feel only fond memories. I was always a shy child, but I can clearly remember the day I met her and showing her my favorite toy, because I knew I could trust her. Emily was there for some of my most pivotal years, providing guidance in the right direction but always with love and never force. I never felt only like “the kid she nannies” - she felt like family to me, and her care extended beyond her roles as our babysitter quite often. Some of my most treasured memories are the Easter Egg Hunts her and her parents would host at their home for all of the kids in the neighborhood, and Emily would always allow me to invite my best friends to come along. She went on to babysit my cousins and my friends too. She will always hold a special place in my heart, and I can confidently say that any other child who has the lucky opportunity to spend time with her would say the same. -Segan Ribi (age 24)

Emily was not just a babysitter to me; she was a cherished part of my childhood. Some of my most special memories are moments spent with her. She truly felt like an extension of our family. Emily created such a safe and fun space for us, ensuring that all of us sisters felt valued and cared for, never competing for attention. Her decision to open a daycare, and knowing that more children will have the opportunity to experience Emily’s care fills me with such joy. I have no doubt that she will create a nurturing environment where children can thrive, just as she did for me and my siblings. I wish her all the success in this new endeavor! -Danica Ribi (age 21)

Philosophy

At Caterpillar Casita, our philosophy centers on nurturing healthy, curious, and creative children through a balance of wholesome nutrition and nature based learning and play. Since young children learn best through active, sensory experiences, music and singing are in integral part of our curriculum- nurturing language development, emotional expression, and memory. Drawing from my background as both a chef and a mother, I place a strong emphasis on providing wholesome, unprocessed snacks and meals made from scratch, free from added sugars, chemicals, and preservatives. I understand that proper nutrition plays a vital role in children’s development, focus, and overall well-being. Equally important is time spent outdoors, where children can explore, imagine, and learn through nature- based play that supports physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. Through this approach, we aim to cultivate a generation of happy, mindful, creative and health-conscious children.

Location

Caterpillar Casita is nestled in a charming storybook-style home in one of San Mateo’s most beautiful neighborhoods. With its white picket fence, blooming flowers, shading trees, and weeping willow, our home exudes warmth and wonder from the moment you arrive. We’re located just behind the picturesque Baresford Park and community garden, giving children easy access to one of the area’s most beloved green spaces. The front lawn is a peaceful haven where babies can rest on soft blankets and children can share snacks under the trees. Our large, landscaped 7,000 square foot backyard offers endless opportunities for nature walks and hands-on exploration, while the spacious driveway provides a safe area for outdoor play, ride-on activities, and art projects. The front lawn Conveniently situated between Highway 280, Highway 92, and Highway 101, our location offers the perfect balance of tranquility and convenience for families on San Mateo and the surrounding areas.

About our program

Nestled in a picturesque San Mateo neighborhood behind Baresford Park’s communal garden, Caterpillar Casita offers a warm and inspiring environment where children can learn, create, and explore. Our days are filled with music, art, and plenty of outdoor play, encouraging imagination and a deep connection to nature. As a former chef, I craft every meal and snack from scratch, focusing on fresh, high quality ingredients (free of chemicals and preservatives), that support children’s health and happiness. My journey as a mother to my amazing, young autistic son, O’Shea, has taught me patience, and the importance of building connection and celebrating each child’s unique rhythm of learning and expression. At Caterpillar Casita, we believe every childhood should be filled with love, creativity and genuine care- inside and out.

Admissions

Join the Casita community in 3 easy steps:

1. Explore our website

We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program me be right for your family.

2. Tour our program

Come see what makes Caterpillar Casita unique. We are currently hosting tours. You can request or schedule a tour at the top of this page.

3. Submit an Enrollment Application

If you’re interested in enrolling, submit an application by selecting Apply to enroll. If this option if not available, you can message Emily. Please do not apply to enroll until you have set up a tour and visited the program.