Woman Training To Be Counsellor Shares One Lesson She Wishes Parents Knew

The noise on social media around parenting can be somewhat overwhelming, but one woman has revealed something she wished more parents knew. Aspiring counselor Tiffany Jayne took to TikTok to share what her tutor advised all parents should be doing: reading to their kids every night, regardless of their behavior. Tiffany Jayne, who did not share her full name, told Newsweek that after discovering the benefits of reading to children, she wanted to share this nugget of wisdom with other parents.
“When you read to your child at the end of the day, it closes off the day,” she said in her video. “It’s that time for connection [and] you teach them that you love them without condition.” She also touched on a common issue many parents face: managing the reading routine when children misbehave. Initially, Tiffany Jayne said in her video that you should always read to your kids “even if they’re terribly naughty,” but following the clip, she told Newsweek that she realized that this language is “not helpful”. In the video, which has been viewed over 200,000 times, Tiffany Jayne said that by reading to your kids, “it doesn’t mean that you’re not disciplining them. It’s just that you teach them that in the future, if they were to make a mistake, you wouldn’t withhold that love from them.” Her advice underscores the broader benefits of reading aloud to children. Research by the Child Mind Institute has shown that regular reading sessions can significantly boost a child’s cognitive development, language skills and academic performance. Tiffany Jayne’s TikTok video garnered hundreds of comments from parents, with many sharing that they’ve experienced “mom guilt” for not reading to their children. One TikTok user commented: “I sent my son to bed earlier than usual the other day because he was playing up and I didn’t read to him like usual and now I feel insane guilt.” Speaking about the reaction online, Tiffany Jayne told Newsweek that while some parents have a different view, others said that they “love that special time with their children to bond over a book.” Despite not having children of her own, Tiffany Jayne said that she loves to read to her nieces and nephews. “I don’t judge parents who don’t read to their children, it’s a personal preference and I’m sure everyone does their best,” she said. “I am not a parent, so I can only go off what I’ve been told. It’s not always easy to read to your kids every night, I’m sure,” she added. If you have a family dilemma, let us know via [email protected]. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.