I've had good and bad maids.
Usually by the time I need help (for toddlers and young kids) I get a nanny and butler. I have the toddlers ask them to play with them, teach them things ect. Usually their parent's just socialize with the toddlers. One of them (butler or nanny) usually cooks autonomously and if they don't I ask the butler to do it for awhile. I'll go behind them and store a few cooked dishes in the fridge. I praise them if they are doing a good job and they tend to do even better as time goes on. It usually works out fine. If not I fire them or go in and change traits... now and then I get a dud. Also sometimes I have to rearrange the house some.. especially those I've downloaded. My sims seem to get stuck or don't path as well in some big downloaded houses.