---
title: "Triggers and Causes of Feelings"
description: "Understand that feelings have causes — something happens (a trigger) and that makes us feel a certain way — and begin to identify what triggers their own emotions"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/triggers-and-causes-of-feelings-mt_9Y5-GjF2B0
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/triggers-and-causes-of-feelings-mt_9Y5-GjF2B0.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Triggers and Causes of Feelings

Understand that feelings have causes — something happens (a trigger) and that makes us feel a certain way — and begin to identify what triggers their own emotions

Subject: Personal & Social Development · Area: Emotional Literacy · Ages 5 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/triggers-and-causes-of-feelings-mt_9Y5-GjF2B0

## Ready when they can

- Describe a trigger for at least three different emotions from their own experience
- Complete 'I felt ___ because ___' sentences accurately
- Identify what made a character in a story feel a particular way

## Lesson: What Made You Feel That Way?

Every feeling starts with something that happens first. That something is called a trigger. A trigger causes the feeling. First the trigger, then the feeling.

**Example.** Mia's dog knocked over her blocks. The trigger was the dog knocking down her tower. Mia felt angry because of that trigger.

*(drawing: First the dog knocks the tower down. Then Mia feels angry. The thing that happens first is the trigger.)*

Think about a time you felt happy, sad, or mad. Ask yourself what happened right before that feeling. That is the trigger you are looking for.

**Tip.** Try saying, I felt ___ because ___. This sentence helps you find any trigger.

**Recap.** Every feeling has a trigger, so ask what happened first.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Feelings Change and Differ](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/feelings-change-and-differ-mt_ggcamLzXAy)

## Opens up

- [Expressing Feelings with Words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/expressing-feelings-with-words-mt_kvrvpQris4)
- [Culture and Experience Shape Emotions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/culture-and-experience-shape-emotions-mt_nIl1kKZHsk)
- [How emotions feel in your body](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/how-emotions-feel-in-your-body-mt_Ytd8XC3eQr)