Recent reports across the country indicate a dramatic surge in kindergarten tantrums and emotional dysregulation, with educators describing an unprecedented increase in crying, yelling, shutting down, and explosive behaviors among five and six-year-olds. Teachers report that students show significantly more difficulty with social-emotional skills including following directions, sharing, and taking turns compared to just five years ago. While post-pandemic effects continue to influence these behaviors, this crisis demands immediate, collaborative action from the entire school community. Physical education teachers, with their unique expertise in movement-based interventions and behavior management, are positioned to be key partners in developing comprehensive solutions1 2.
Understanding the Root Causes
Kindergarteners today face multiple challenges that contribute to their emotional dysregulation. The shift toward more academic-focused kindergarten programs has moved away from self-directed play, asking 4–6-year-olds to sit quietly for extended periods when they’re not developmentally ready. Additionally, many incoming students lack exposure to structured group settings, having missed crucial preschool socialization experiences. Research shows that family instability, including household changes and disrupted routines, significantly contributes to kindergarten behavior problems. These factors create a perfect storm where children enter school without the emotional regulation skills needed for classroom success3.
The Power of Movement-Based Interventions
Physical activity serves as a powerful tool for managing student behavior and supporting emotional regulation. Research demonstrates that movement-based interventions can significantly improve executive function, attention, and behavioral control in young children. Cognitively engaging physical activities, such as games that require following complex instructions or adapting movements, show the largest effect sizes for improving kindergarten behavior. Movement breaks help interrupt negative behavioral patterns, provide sensory regulation opportunities, and support the development of self-control skills that are essential for classroom success 4.
Collaborative Strategies Between PE and Classroom Teachers
1. Integrated Sensory Break Programming
PE teachers can work with classroom educators to design structured sensory break schedules throughout the school day. These breaks should be brief (3-5 minutes) and incorporate activities that provide specific sensory input to help students reset and refocus. Effective sensory breaks include5:
Movement-Based Activities:
- Animal walks (bear crawls, crab walks, frog hops)
- Wall push-ups and chair push-ups for proprioceptive input
- Simple yoga poses and stretching sequences
- Jumping jacks and running in place6
Transition Activities:
- Walking like different animals between classroom activities
- Deep breathing exercises with movement
- Brief dance sequences or action songs
- “Simon Says” games with cognitive challenges
PE teachers can train classroom staff on implementing these activities and provide ongoing support to ensure consistency across all learning environments.
2. Collaborative Behavior Management Systems
PE teachers can contribute to school-wide behavior management by aligning their gymnasium expectations with classroom norms. This involves developing consistent language, procedures, and consequences that support the broader school behavior plan. Key collaborative elements include7:
Shared Expectations Framework:
- Develop common behavioral language used across all settings
- Create visual supports that reinforce expected behaviors
- Establish consistent reward systems that classroom teachers can reference
- Implement the “5 C’s” of behavior management: Clarity, Consequences, Consistency, Caring, and Change
Communication Systems:
- Regular check-ins between PE and classroom teachers about student progress
- Shared behavior tracking tools that document both academic and physical education contexts
- Joint problem-solving sessions for students with persistent challenges
3. Interdisciplinary Teaching Models
Research supports collaborative teaching approaches that integrate physical education with academic content. PE teachers can partner with classroom educators using several effective models:
Station Teaching Model:
- PE teachers lead movement-based learning stations
- Classroom teachers facilitate academic content stations
- Students rotate between different types of learning experiences
- Activities integrate physical movement with curriculum concepts
Team Teaching Approach:
- Both teachers present lessons simultaneously with complementary roles
- PE teacher demonstrates physical concepts while classroom teacher provides academic connections
- Shared responsibility for behavior management and student engagement
- Students benefit from multiple teaching styles and perspectives
4. Emotion Regulation Through Movement
PE teachers can collaborate with classroom educators to implement movement-based emotional regulation strategies. These approaches help kindergarteners develop self-awareness and coping skills through physical activity:
Emotional Regulation Activities:
- “Feelings thermometer” exercises using body movement to show emotion intensity
- Physical “reset” activities when students become overwhelmed
- Breathing exercises combined with gentle movements
- Partner activities that promote social connection and cooperation
Calm-Down Movement Protocols:
- Create designated spaces for regulated movement breaks
- Teach students specific movement sequences for self-regulation
- Provide alternatives to traditional “time-out” approaches
- Use movement as a tool for processing difficult emotions
5. Professional Development and Training
Successful collaboration requires ongoing professional development for both PE and classroom teachers. Joint training sessions can focus on:
Shared Learning Opportunities:
- Understanding child development and emotional regulation
- Learning movement-based behavior management techniques
- Practicing collaborative teaching models
- Developing school-wide behavior support systems
Cross-Training Programs:
- PE teachers learning about academic curriculum integration
- Classroom teachers developing movement break facilitation skills
- Both groups understanding trauma-informed practices
- Collaborative problem-solving strategies for challenging behaviors
Implementation Timeline and Assessment
Phase 1: Foundation Building (Weeks 1-4)
- Conduct joint planning sessions between PE and classroom teachers
- Develop shared behavior expectations and common language
- Train all staff on basic movement break techniques
- Establish communication systems and documentation procedures
Phase 2: Program Launch (Weeks 5-12)
- Implement daily sensory breaks in classrooms with PE teacher support
- Begin collaborative teaching models in select classrooms
- Monitor student responses and adjust strategies as needed
- Collect baseline data on behavior incidents and student engagement
Phase 3: Expansion and Refinement (Weeks 13-24)
- Expand successful strategies to additional classrooms
- Develop more sophisticated interdisciplinary lessons
- Train additional staff members in effective techniques
- Assess program effectiveness and make data-driven adjustments
Measuring Success
Effective collaboration between PE and classroom teachers should result in measurable improvements in several key areas:
Behavioral Outcomes:
- Decreased office referrals and disciplinary incidents
- Reduced tantrum frequency and duration
- Improved self-regulation during transitions
- Increased positive peer interactions
Academic Benefits:
- Enhanced attention and focus during learning activities
- Improved participation in classroom discussions
- Better task completion rates
- Increased school engagement and attendance
Social-Emotional Growth:
- Development of emotional vocabulary and self-awareness
- Improved cooperation and sharing behaviors
- Enhanced problem-solving skills
- Stronger teacher-student relationships
Creating Sustainable Systems
Long-term success requires building sustainable systems that extend beyond individual teacher efforts. Schools should consider:
Administrative Support:
- Provide protected planning time for collaborative teams
- Allocate resources for necessary equipment and materials
- Support professional development opportunities
- Recognize and celebrate collaborative successes
Family and Community Engagement:
- Share movement-based strategies with families for home use
- Provide parent education on child development and behavior management
- Create community partnerships that support student wellbeing
- Communicate program benefits to all stakeholders
Continuous Improvement:
- Regular assessment of program effectiveness
- Ongoing refinement of collaborative strategies
- Documentation of best practices for replication
- Staff feedback and adjustment processes
Addressing Implementation Challenges
While collaboration between PE and classroom teachers offers significant benefits, schools must address potential obstacles:
Time and Scheduling Constraints:
- Build collaboration time into daily schedules
- Use brief, focused planning sessions
- Leverage technology for communication and resource sharing
- Start with small, manageable collaborative efforts
Different Teaching Philosophies:
- Focus on shared goals for student success
- Respect diverse approaches while finding common ground
- Provide training on collaborative best practices
- Celebrate successes from different teaching perspectives
Resource Limitations:
- Begin with low-cost, high-impact strategies
- Seek grants and funding opportunities
- Share resources and materials between programs
- Partner with community organizations for additional support
The kindergarten tantrum crisis requires immediate, comprehensive action that leverages the unique strengths of all educators. By partnering PE teachers with classroom educators, schools can create powerful, movement-based interventions that address the root causes of emotional dysregulation while building students’ long-term success skills. This collaborative approach not only supports struggling kindergarteners but also creates a more positive, effective learning environment for all students. The time for action is now – our youngest learners depend on educators working together to provide the support, structure, and movement opportunities they need to thrive.
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Learn more at PhysednHealth. Contact us at awesome@physednhealth.com
PhysednHealth is a leading physical education and student wellness technology platform designed to help schools modernize PE with smart, standards-based tools. Our easy-to-use physical education software empowers teachers to track student progress, set SMART fitness goals, and promote mental and physical well-being. Trusted by educators worldwide, PhysednHealth brings data-driven insights, AI-powered assessments, and personalized learning to PE programs—helping students build lifelong healthy habits.
