As a fun experiment, I put out a “call for papers” for parent training handouts/protocols via email and social media. My main intention is to show you small things you can do with your current handouts to make them more parent friendly.
I chose 3 samples and put together a video for you below.
Here are a few things to increase readability:
White space. Add white space with wide margins, increase spacing in paragraphs, using images, and even taking out excess information. When a page is heavy with text, it will likely overwhelm the reader.
Turning lists into bullets and tables instead of paragraph form. It not only adds white space, but the information is organized and easy to read.
Being intentional with color. Pick at most 2 colors. Use color to bring the reader’s attention to important information.
Sample 1:
Snack Write UP
Tap images for details.
BEFORE
[ 1 ] - The list of options is hidden in the paragraph. This can be pulled into a bullet list or table.
AFTER
[ 1 ] - Created a 3 column table to illustrate an array with examples.
[ 2 ] - I used color to bring attention to the snack options and when to offer snack.
Thoughts
I love the simple layout. I wouldn’t change much.
In the “intervention” section, the trainer describes 3 options to offer during snack. Instead of listing in a sentence, I pulled the information out into a 3-column table.
Sample 2:
Reinforcement
Tap images for details.
BEFORE
[ 1 - 3 ] - These can be separated into a series of parent goals
[ 4 ] - Color block brings your attention to the information here.
AFTER
Added white space throughout the document.
[ 1 ] - Brought callout, color block to the top.
[ 2 ] - Added blank space for active discussion on those topics through examples.
[ 3 ] - Merged “Key Principles of Reinforcement” and “Using Reinforcement Effectively.” Removed the other sections for another training.
[ 4 ] - Checkboxes broke up the text, and brings attention to what the parent needs to do.
This sample is a training intended for registered behavior technicians (RBT) and also used for parents. The trainer said they would like input as it may be overwhelming for parents.
Thoughts.
I love the yellow, callout block. It brings your attention to something important. I moved it to the top so it’s the first thing you see.
The document is heavy with jargon. I would simplify the terminology for parents and add plenty of examples.
To reduce information overload, perhaps deliver the content in digestible bites. The document could easily be broken into 2-3 parent goals across multiple sessions.
Add white space so they document doesn’t appear heavy with text.
Make the handout interactive by adding blank boxes and checklists. The small, yellow checkboxes are helpful tips or prompts for parents to be effective.
Sample 3:
Lesson plan
Tap images for details.
BEFORE
This is page 2 of the handout.
[ 1 ] - I suggest reserving the green background to page 1 (shown in video) since the first page is a “how to” and is the primary focus.
AFTER
[ 1 ] - Changed the color for the titles to establish the different sections of the page.
[ 2 ] - Created an alternative layout to bullets using a table.
[ 3 ] - Increased paragraph spacing to add more “white space”
The 2-page handout was already great, but the trainer asked for suggestions to turn this into a template for multiple families since the trainer is limited with the amount of time with them. I provided an alternative layout.
Thoughts
I got excited to see my BIP Template in action!
I would keep the “how-to” to page 1, and move all the programs to page 2. It appears page 2 is an overview of all the programs. As a template, keeping designated sections allows space for shorter or longer content depending on the family’s needs.
Be intentional with color. I reserved the green background to page 1 since it is something the parent is currently learning.
Summary
The main changes I did throughout the 3 documents are adding white space and pulling out important information into a bullet list or table. This makes it easier to find information without feeling overwhelmed with heavy text.
I hope you found this helpful! I appreciated the sample submissions so I could do this for y’all. If you’re looking for more parent training examples, check out my Roadmap to Parent Training materials.
