Who just started having maid at home w kids without adults?

[thinking]

Hi Mrs Wong


How much does a CCTV cost? How does it work?Do you let your maid know that u have CCTV?
My boys are in lower primary. And I’m getting ready to go back to working life…

[duriz]

thinking:

Hi Mrs Wong


How much does a CCTV cost? How does it work?Do you let your maid know that u have CCTV?
My boys are in lower primary. And I'm getting ready to go back to working life....

Hi thinking,

read these few brief exchanges about cctv:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=903&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=3180

Hope it's useful for you. Good luck with your helper.

[mummyjoyce]

My DDs were at home with maid since they are P4. There are Sec1 and P6 now.

However my DH and myself contantly conduct spot checks by going home without calling to see what is they are doing.
So fair so good even after changing maid last year.

[atrecord]

To me, this is something of a big risk, which I’ll not take. Most maids appear harmless and mild initially, as they must prove themselves - else runs risks of being sent back.


But they are all humans, so a good number of them will try to find ways to look for short-cuts, take breaks, do things that will benefit themselves, etc. when they are not supposed to. This is made more likely when there is no adult supervising them.

Of course there are really good ones that are dedicated and honest, but the odds of getting one that isn’t, is not low.

And the worse thing is that sometimes, one mistake is too many…

Of course, if really cannont make it, then no choice lor.

[mrswongtuition]

thinking:

Hi Mrs Wong


How much does a CCTV cost? How does it work?Do you let your maid know that u have CCTV?
My boys are in lower primary. And I'm getting ready to go back to working life....

There are many different types and price depends on what you want.

You can get cheap internet cameras which work with your wireless internet system at home for viewing from office but downside is there's no recording unless you record on your computer (need to leave it on). Price range from $200 - 600 per camera. Recommended brand: D-Link.

Or you can get those proper CCTV with recording function. Cheap sets from China can cost around $600 (with 2 camera and installation). From Korea it's more reliable but slightly more expensive. My hubs is selling these machines so we know which are good and which are not These might require some cable works, depending on where you want to install them.
You can choose pure recording only or you can choose those with internet viewing (newest model is iPhone compatible). Mostly go by motion sensor (only record when motion detected).

I do not let the maids know that there's CCTV. The CCTV was in 3 main areas: Kitchen, Living/Dining Room, Bedroom (my son's - mine's locked). We did remind them NOT to change in the bedroom. Only can change in the toilet.

My current maid is very good, so we installed it to watch the main door only.
My previous maid, the CCTV caught her stealing food & money. & she accused us of abuse when we sent her back to agency (she ran off with help from other maids to go to embassy). Embassy called us to investigate and we had ready proof - CCTV footage of her wrong doings & footage of normal daily life at home.

I have friends who install and they switch it off once they are home for privacy. It's up to you. I'm too lazy to do that so we leave it running 24/7.

[thinking]

Hi Mrs Wong and Mummy Joyce


Are your maid Indo or Phi?

[mrswongtuition]

thinking:

Hi Mrs Wong and Mummy Joyce


Are your maid Indo or Phi?

Now Indon. The one who stole and lied is Filipina.
We've resigned to take Indon cos Filipina give us alot of problems.

[carebear]

thinking:

Hi Mrs Wong


How much does a CCTV cost? How does it work?Do you let your maid know that u have CCTV?
My boys are in lower primary. And I'm getting ready to go back to working life....

I did not use CCTV during my time.
First i hired a matured maid (38 years old).
Secondly i worked part time in the morning, so baby was asleep while i worked, then i came back in the afternoon and took over the child minding. Then my hubby came home, i went to work at night again.
When 2nd one came, 1st one went to child care centre.
I believe that as long as the maid is not left to mind the children for the whole entire day, she should be fine.
However, your kids are in lower primary, they should be able to contact you. Letting the maid know that you have CCTV will deter her from doing any strange things. To me, the CCTV should function as a deterrant, rather than a spy.

[thinking]

But there’s no adult at home…i’m afraid kids can’t communicate w indo…

[mrswongtuition]

thinking:

But there's no adult at home...i'm afraid kids can't communicate w indo...

The maid is a fresh maid? Never worked before? I prefer maids who worked in Malaysia previously for Chinese/Indian/Caucasian families as they can speak either English or Chinese/Cantonese.

My current Indon maid worked in Msia for 3 years for an Indian family. Her command of English is quite good and we had no problems with her at all. She knows the basic house rules and what employers don't like.

Teach your kids simple Bahasa Indonesia. Enough to ask for basic needs will do. Anyway, the kids not suppose to communicate much with the maid right? The maid will be busy with her own housework?