What is stimulus?

A stimulus is something that makes you or someone else react, like when a toy moves and you laugh or jump.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite stuffed animal. If it suddenly starts bouncing up and down on the bed, you might giggle or reach out to touch it. That bouncing is the stimulus, and your giggle or reaching out is your reaction.

Think of a stimulus like a bumpy road in a toy car. When the car hits a bump, it shakes, that’s the stimulus. You might laugh or shout “Whoa!” because of the shake. The bumpy road causes you to react, just like how your stuffed animal makes you giggle.

Your mom calling you for dinner is also a stimulus. It makes you stop playing and walk to the kitchen, that’s your reaction. Every time she calls, it's like a little nudge from her voice, telling your brain, “Time to eat!”

Stimuli can be sounds, movements, smells, or even words, anything that gets you or someone else to do something! A stimulus is something that makes you or someone else react, like when a toy moves and you laugh or jump.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite stuffed animal. If it suddenly starts bouncing up and down on the bed, you might giggle or reach out to touch it. That bouncing is the stimulus, and your giggle or reaching out is your reaction.

Think of a stimulus like a bumpy road in a toy car. When the car hits a bump, it shakes, that’s the stimulus. You might laugh or shout “Whoa!” because of the shake. The bumpy road causes you to react, just like how your stuffed animal makes you giggle.

Your mom calling you for dinner is also a stimulus. It makes you stop playing and walk to the kitchen, that’s your reaction. Every time she calls, it's like a little nudge from her voice, telling your brain, “Time to eat!”

Stimuli can be sounds, movements, smells, or even words, anything that gets you or someone else to do something!