There?s a reason kids freak out over things adults are able to take in stride, and it?s called the frontal lobe?a.k.a. the part of the brain that regulates, inhibits and prioritizes our reactions. And it takes a full 25 years to fully develop. ?I tell all of my parents that that is their job?to be their child?s frontal lobe,? says Jennifer Kolari, a child and family therapist. When it comes to the most common meltdown triggers, she explains that your little one is a lot like a Neanderthal: If you?ve ruled out hunger, tiredness and a need for the bathroom, here are other common reasons your little one may be throwing a fit. 
Sensory discomfort Nobody likes a clothing tag sticking in their back, uncomfortable footwear or materials that feel scratchy. The difference is that when an adult is dealing with this sort of discomfort, we can place it in context (as in, it?s not the end of the world), and push inconvenient irritations to the back of our minds. ?A kid can?t do that,? says Kolari. ?There is no putting discomfort in context.? Which is why getting a four-year-old into jeans may not be a battle worth fighting.  Wanting and not getting Whether it?s not receiving the cute new Beanie Baby at the toy store or being denied one more episode of Peppa Pig, when a child?s will is stunted, they have a limbic response, which means the part of the brain that is responsible for detecting danger is kicking in. ?They are literally having a fight-or-flight response,? says Ko...