geekydaddy
New member
What are the options for childcare if I don't want to hire a helper? I really don't want somebody sharing my apartment with my family!
Working parents don't want a helper
- Thread starter geekydaddy
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Ollie_Roast
Registered User
One of my colleague has her child in a kindergarten that offers whole day/child care services... but I think it's selected centers and the latest time you need to pick up the child is by 6pm. Also it's only for children from PN onwards... so at least 2 years old? Otherwise childcare is not that popular in Hong Kong.
Another option might be to have a part time domestic helper who can pick up the kids for your as well as do some cooking and cleaning for you.
Hope that helps!
Another option might be to have a part time domestic helper who can pick up the kids for your as well as do some cooking and cleaning for you.
Hope that helps!
Live-out foreign domestic helpers, though illegal, are fairly common. So that's an option. Employer and helper come to an arrangement about working hours and paying extra for lodging etc.
I know a couple of people who have their kids in creches, which do exist though they are rare. One near my apartment in Tiu Keng Leng: Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children
I know a couple of people who have their kids in creches, which do exist though they are rare. One near my apartment in Tiu Keng Leng: Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children
geekydaddy
New member
Thanks for your help! Pre-nursery is probably a bit further down the road. Anyone know more about the day creches? Are they any good? From the website it looks pretty decent!
carang
Registered User
from what i know:
(1) long waiting lists
(2) some have a "low income" requirement
(3) none that i know of have English speakers
(4) often cost more than a full time, live in helper
But please, if you find out differently, let us know. It would be great info to have. Good luck!
(1) long waiting lists
(2) some have a "low income" requirement
(3) none that i know of have English speakers
(4) often cost more than a full time, live in helper
But please, if you find out differently, let us know. It would be great info to have. Good luck!
There is very little Western-style daycare here for working parents.
We use a live-out foreign domestic helper. It is the most affordable, easiest option for childcare.
We pay her standard $4,100 monthly salary + $3,000 for her living costs. She shares a studio apartment with a friend, also a Filipina helper. (Note: that cost is for Kowloon)
She gets to work at 8am, takes our older daughter to and from kindie, and then leaves after dinnertime. I do our daughter's bedtime routine at 9. (The second one is just a newborn).
She's absolutely wonderful - as a working mom, I don't know what I'd do without her. She also gives us more flexibility than a creche, as I can call on her if I have to work late... or just want to occasionally go out for dinner.
Also, the local creche near our house gives priority to low-income families, as it should. The waiting list is 2 years!
We use a live-out foreign domestic helper. It is the most affordable, easiest option for childcare.
We pay her standard $4,100 monthly salary + $3,000 for her living costs. She shares a studio apartment with a friend, also a Filipina helper. (Note: that cost is for Kowloon)
She gets to work at 8am, takes our older daughter to and from kindie, and then leaves after dinnertime. I do our daughter's bedtime routine at 9. (The second one is just a newborn).
She's absolutely wonderful - as a working mom, I don't know what I'd do without her. She also gives us more flexibility than a creche, as I can call on her if I have to work late... or just want to occasionally go out for dinner.
Also, the local creche near our house gives priority to low-income families, as it should. The waiting list is 2 years!
Hello
Just to tag onto this thread - I also am not that keen to have a live in DH but intend to go back to work part time when my baby is 6 months old. Gracey is your set up 'legal' as you provide living costs? Although this is a more expensive option it gives you a bit more privacy so I like the idea - how do you work food costs? Does she just eat your food during working hours? Are there many DH out there who are willing to do this live out option or did you have to search around a lot?
Many thanks
Just to tag onto this thread - I also am not that keen to have a live in DH but intend to go back to work part time when my baby is 6 months old. Gracey is your set up 'legal' as you provide living costs? Although this is a more expensive option it gives you a bit more privacy so I like the idea - how do you work food costs? Does she just eat your food during working hours? Are there many DH out there who are willing to do this live out option or did you have to search around a lot?
Many thanks
JoMcK - No, our set-up is not technically legal. But it's common. And I don't see anything wrong with it, as we are covering all her room and board. If anything, helpers have a much higher quality of living if they are living out, as it gives them privacy and time off.
Her food costs are part of her HK $3000 living allowance. (The legal minimum for a food allowance is something like $920). Her share of their studio flat is $2000.
We are also quite easy-going about food at home. Our helper is here from 8am to 8pm, sometimes later if we go out for dinner. And while she does cooks breakfast and dinner in her own home -- and sometimes packs lunch -- we obviously do not expect her to go 12, 13 hours with only one meal.
We tell her she is welcome to the basic food in our home - a tea or coffee in the morning, or maybe some of the rice, pasta, etc, she cooks for our child. Usually she eats her own stuff, but we're not fascists about it. If there's a special birthday or holiday, we invite her to share some cake with us.
Her food costs are part of her HK $3000 living allowance. (The legal minimum for a food allowance is something like $920). Her share of their studio flat is $2000.
We are also quite easy-going about food at home. Our helper is here from 8am to 8pm, sometimes later if we go out for dinner. And while she does cooks breakfast and dinner in her own home -- and sometimes packs lunch -- we obviously do not expect her to go 12, 13 hours with only one meal.
We tell her she is welcome to the basic food in our home - a tea or coffee in the morning, or maybe some of the rice, pasta, etc, she cooks for our child. Usually she eats her own stuff, but we're not fascists about it. If there's a special birthday or holiday, we invite her to share some cake with us.
JoMcK - Be very clear with both the agency and the helper that you want someone live-out.
The live-out must WANT to live out. Some do not, as they prefer the security of being at home.
You also want someone who is quite independent, savvy, and knows HK. You don't want some young girl fresh from the Philippines / Indonesia, who has no idea how to survive in this city, and leave her to the mercy of HK landlords and "boarding houses."
The best option is to find a veteran helper -- probably someone who has worked with HK expat families before -- you has lived out before.
The live-out must WANT to live out. Some do not, as they prefer the security of being at home.
You also want someone who is quite independent, savvy, and knows HK. You don't want some young girl fresh from the Philippines / Indonesia, who has no idea how to survive in this city, and leave her to the mercy of HK landlords and "boarding houses."
The best option is to find a veteran helper -- probably someone who has worked with HK expat families before -- you has lived out before.