Dubai: Maids are not the same as nannies, yet many families in the UAE rely on maids to help raise their children, ignoring the negative effect this kind of upbringing can have on them.
Most Emirati families, 96 per cent, have maids said Linda Chaccour, a Certified Youth, Parent and Family coach and founder of Emerge-Life and Youth Couching during the Nanny Factor session at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on Thursday.
Chaccour told Gulf News on the sidelines of the festival that most families opt to hire a maid instead of a certified nanny because the latter can cost a minimum of Dh1,500 a week, while a maid costs Dh1,500 a month.
Chaccour added that another reason why some women might choose a maid instead of a nanny is because she might be intimidated by an educated woman becoming a second mother to her children.
Regardless of what the reason is, relying on maids almost completely to raise children has its consequences.
“Relying on maids can make children feel neglected, causing them to have behavioural problems in the future. Another concern is parents overindulging and spoiling their children to compensate for feeling guilty after leaving them with the maid,” she said.
Chaccour said another problem faced my employers is the communication barrier, as most of the maids in the UAE do not speak Arabic as a first language. Children developing low esteem is also common because they might feel they are not important to their parents.
She also said a maid who has two roles, a maid and a nanny, might end up putting the child in front of the TV so that she can cope with the rest of her tasks like cleaning or cooking.
“Being exposed to the TV for long hours instead of communicating with others can affect the development of the child,” Chaccour added.
Sarah Rogers an experienced educator who runs Early Years Educational Services said since many maids come from other countries and are usually uneducated, it is up to the mother to teach and train them.
“How do you expect someone who comes from a different country and culture to teach your children your cultural values? Mothers should talk to maids so that they have the same approach,” Rogers said.
She added that parents spending quality time and bonding with children when they are free is a must.
Sarah Al Mheiri, an Emirati mother who also works, said not having a maid is impossible. Just like Rogers she believes that spending quality time with her children and making sure that there is time to bond can compensate.
Dr Hayat Shams, an Emirati woman who choose to stay at home when her children were young, believes maids should not be expected to have two roles no matter what the reason is, and instead opted to put her children in nurseries.
