Roberts’ Rules of Order for Parents

By Thomas Creen, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

One of my best instructors while studying Education at Arizona State University (ASU) was a man named David Roberts. He had been a successful high school teacher and wanted to contribute to the formation of future educators by working for ASU’s teacher prep program. He put together a valuable list of tips culled from his time as a teacher.

It occurred to me today that some of these tips would be valuable for parenting as well. The reason they apply to both spheres is that education is about leadership (look at the etymology of the word – ducere is Latin for “to lead”) and so is parenting.

Here are the most applicable ones for parenting (numeration per his list; it had no particular order):

4. Enthusiasm…Be more enthusiastic than they are apathetic.
5. Be positive.
6. Respect.
10. Stay positive.
11. Self-efficacy. Positive expectations. “You can be an A student.”
13. Maslow…secure security; don’t let them be longing to belong.
15. Teach children how to represent themselves.
16. Positive reinforcement.
18. Take a picture.
19. Show up at events.
20. “I need your help.” “What do you want me to do?”
21. All children are motivated.
24. Be lavish with praise.
25. Ask, don’t tell: “Adam, did you need my attention for something?”
32. Care. If they don’t know that you care, they won’t care what you know. Tell them and show them…early and often.
33. Did I mention to be positive?
34. Never embarrass or humiliate.
38. Be a role model, e.g., how to deal with conflict, different ideas, not ‘how not to’.
39. Teach the “Big Picture” or the “Big Idea”. Remind about the “why” often.
45. To be continued. Still learning and reflecting after 37 years!

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