Pre-K to 3rd grade students struggling- toileting, tying laces; COVID blamed

Mar 13, 2026, Toileting and Tying Shoes: Young Students Increasingly Lack Basic Skills

For 50-plus years, students in grades 4, 8, and 12 have taken national standardized tests that assess reading and math proficiency and are designed to measure overall academic achievement. But long before those assessments begin, students acquire other foundational skills that shape how well they learn in school. Many of these—including motor skills, self-regulation, and social-emotional maturity—are rarely measured in formal assessments.

A new nationally representative survey from the EdWeek Research Center offers a snapshot of how teachers and administrators view young students’ skills in these often overlooked areas.

In January 2026, the EdWeek Research Center surveyed 1,163 early educators and administrators who work with children in pre-K through 3rd grade. The survey asked about students’ behavior, emotional regulation, motor development, and other foundational skills.

Respondents were also asked whether today’s students in pre-K through 3rd grade struggle more with basic skills and daily tasks than their same-age peers two years ago.

Their responses showed some concerning patterns. Across multiple areas—from everyday classroom routines to emotional regulation—educators report that young children are struggling more than in recent years. Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of key findings, and what they may tell us about today’s youngest students.

A decline in the ability to perform basic skills and tasks

A clear majority of survey respondents—75% of whom were preschool teachers—said that compared with two years ago, students are struggling more with several basic skills and tasks, from following instructions to tying their own shoes.

What’s at play here?

Researchers say the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic appears to continue to plague young students—even those who weren’t in school then.

Those students may be feeling the effects of fundamental post-pandemic changes to the educational system, said Megan Kuhfeld, author of a report that analyzed test results of students who were in K-2 in the spring of 2025 and found 1st and 2nd graders to be struggling.

Similarly, a 2024 study found declines in communication, problem-solving, and other social skills among children born during the pandemic compared to those born pre-pandemic. The study took place in pediatric office settings and included more than 50,000 children ages 0-5.

Certain behaviors and attitudes at home that accelerated during the pandemic may also contribute. Screen use by children of all ages of increased during the pandemic. Today, nearly 40% of 2-year-olds have their own tablets, and 75% of parents whose children use screen media do not impose limits, according to a 2025 national report by Common Sense Media.

Some experts say this hands-off approach aligns with permissive parenting styles.

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. In turn, children raised with permissive parenting may find classroom routines, rules, and overall expectations overwhelming or confusing.