Ask a teacher if his or her job is getting harder. Most will tell you student behavior is their biggest professional hurdle. Can dads play a role in fixing things at school? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about how bad student behavior has gotten and how the solution starts at home.

Why This Matters

Poor student behavior is disruptive, shows a lack of respect for teachers, and makes learning harder. If we want our kids to excel in the classroom, we should focus on promoting good behavior.

Key Takeaways

• -Mental health impacts behavior: Increased anxiety, stress, and frustration make it hard for kids to focus on school-related tasks.
• -COVID still lingers: The impact of pandemic shutdowns is still being felt in classrooms on social and academic levels.
• -Screens have changed kids’ brains: Kids getting constant visual stimulation from screens may struggle with “boring” paper and books.

Practical Tips to Help Improve Your Students’ Behavior

1. 1. Stop Passenger Parenting (see Episode 106). Get involved in your kids’ education. Set ground rules for expected behavior.
2. 2. Deal With Anxiety. It’s often a biproduct of pressure. Show empathy. Find the root cause of kids’ feelings helps us understand their behavior.
3. 3. Relieve Stress Away From School. Let kids be kids when they’re not in the classroom.
4. 4. Start an All Pro Dad Chapter. These monthly, turnkey meetings get dads on campus to spend quality time with their kids.

Important Episode Timestamps

00:02:07 – 00:03:42 | Are Student Behavior Problems Getting Worse?
An honest look at what teachers are reporting about rising classroom disruptions and emotional volatility.

00:03:42 – 00:05:18 | What’s Driving the Spike in Classroom Issues
How pandemic aftereffects, screen time, and emotional immaturity are contributing to behavior challenges.

00:05:18 – 00:07:06 | The Self-Regulation Crisis in Kids
Why many students are struggling with impulse control, frustration tolerance, and delayed gratification.

00:07:06 – 00:09:11 | Screen Time, Dopamine & Attention Problems
How constant digital stimulation is reshaping focus, patience, and classroom engagement.

00:09:11 – 00:11:04 | The Disappearing Authority of Teachers
Why respect for classroom leadership has shifted—and how that affects daily learning environments.

00:11:04 – 00:13:02 | Parents vs. Schools: Who Owns Behavior?
A conversation about responsibility, partnership, and where discipline formation truly begins.

00:13:02 – 00:15:14 | Why Kids Struggle With Boundaries Today
How inconsistent limits at home translate into defiance and confusion at school.

00:15:14 – 00:17:26 | Emotional Regulation Starts at Home
Practical ways dads can help kids build self-control before problems show up in class.

00:17:26 – 00:19:41 | Supporting Teachers Instead of Undermining Them
Why backing school leadership builds accountability and long-term character in kids.

00:19:41 – 00:22:58 | Raising Kids Who Can Function in the Real World
A closing challenge to prepare children for responsibility, structure, and authority beyond school.

• APD Pro Move:
  Do one of these things:
  -Talk to your kids about anxiety, listen, and give empathy and hope.
• -Work on some coping mechanisms with your kids.
• -Do something fun and crazy this week to reduce stress.
• -Check out an All Pro Dad Chapter in your area.

Sponsor:
The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.