“We’ve seen a large increase in the inability for students to cope when things don’t go their way.
We see a lot of crying, yelling, shutting down, gross overreactions. Teachers are at the end of their rope.”
~ Ian Knox, principal, Hamagrael Elementary School
Recently, the EdWeek Research Center surveyed 1,163 early educators and administrators asking about student behavior, emotional regulation, motor development, and other functional skills, plus the question “Do PreK through 3rd grade students struggle more with basic skills and daily tasks than those two years ago.”
Turns out they do and in a number of ways:
- 72% said it’s with following directions.
- 62% said it’s with sharing, cooperating with others, and taking turns.
- 60% said it’s talking well enough for others to understand.
- 55% said it’s with putting on their coats and sweaters.
- 54% said it’s with shoe tying.
- 54% said it’s with potty training/using the bathroom.
And this time, we can’t just blame the pandemic, not at all. In fact, according to a 2025 Common Sense Media report:
- 40% of 2-year-olds have their own tablets.
- 75% of parents of screen media using children DO NOT impose limits.
Plus, Education Week’s Elizabeth Heubeck writes, “Families that favor permissive parenting tend to prioritize their children’s immediate emotional well-being, let them make their own choices, and use discipline sparingly.”
The result, as Beck concludes, is kids who don’t cope well with classroom rules, routines, and /or expectations.
Talk about unwelcome consequences…
~ With thanks, Carol
