Teenagers can use sensory games to help build nontechnical skills.
Sensory games for teenagers are games that parents can utilize to help build communication skills with their children. Sensory games and related integration activities help those involved to better understand the world around them. Teenagers can use sensory games, advocated by occupational therapists and others, to help build life skills or refresh rudimentary skills often glossed over in school curricula.
Video Games
While sensory overload can be an issue, interactive video games, when played responsibly, are effective to work on sensory stimulation and learning. In particular, generic sports games such as baseball, tennis and bowling, popularized by the Nintendo Wii, address both tactile and visual needs. Teenagers can incorporate physical activity into their gaming sessions as well. Other games, such as Dance Dance Revolution, also combine physical activity with visual stimulation and do not require the use of a handheld controller.
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are an excellent fun activity that can also be used as a sensory game for teenagers. In particular, items that are hidden, whether around town, in a neighborhood or in a large house, should have tactile value -- that is, related to the sense of touch -- to help with sensory stimulation. Examples include textured items such as a pineapple, weighted items such as a baseball or visually stimulating items such as a neon-flashing glow stick. To further enhance this game, items can be hidden in sensory-enhanced spots or places -- for example, a room with music playing or outdoors where the sounds of nature can add to the experience.
Wrestling
Physical activity can form a large part of sensory activities for children of all ages, especially teenagers. One such activity is wrestling, which can be integrated into certain games or can stand alone as a competitive activity. Through wrestling, teenagers can work on response times by anticipating an opponent's moves. They will also work on strengthening muscle. Further, wrestling is a practically no-cost activity that can meet any household budget.
I Spy
While I Spy in its most elementary form can be considered a game for children, an integrated version can also used to help teenagers with sensory development. By using a magnifying glass, teenagers can adapt this sight sensory game to their level by viewing anything from mundane household objects to the almost microscopic world of insects. Another form of this game can use binoculars. Teenagers, for instance, can use binoculars to "spy" on birds, adding an educational element to this sensory-specific activity.
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