Teachers in the US Struggle with the “Pandemic Generation”
Elementary school teachers across the United States have been grappling in recent years with increasing behavioral problems among young children. Students’ inability to stay seated, physical aggression toward classmates, and failure to follow instructions have become a new norm for many teachers.
According to experts, the primary cause of this shift is the disruption the Covid-19 pandemic created in children’s early developmental stages. Research by Brown University shows that children born during the pandemic exhibit lower levels of language, motor, and cognitive development than previous generations. In a 2025 survey, 76 percent of school leaders reported that the pandemic continues to negatively affect students’ behavioral development.
During the pandemic, many children missed out on preschool education and social interaction opportunities. Increased screen time, reduced recess, and heightened academic expectations are also cited as factors that have negatively affected children’s social-emotional development. Experts emphasize a strong connection between behavioral challenges and academic achievement, noting that classroom disorder leads to learning loss.
As educators develop new classroom management strategies to respond to this growing crisis, experts stress that the solution lies not only in discipline but also in strengthening social-emotional support systems and improving teacher training.