Tactile sensory integration activities improve a person’s sense of touch. One of the best ways to improve the sense of touch in teenagers is to have them create an art project that involves basic sculpting. For example, you can assign students to produce a basic object made of terra-cotta clay or even Play-doh. Use other types of objects to decorate the clay sculpture, such as stones, seeds and tree bark, each of which have different textures.
Vestibular activities are sensory integration activities that can improve a person’s sense of movement and balance. Activities such as trampoline exercise, a sack race and any type of activity that involves rapid acceleration or sudden stops can improve a person’s balance and movement. Exercises such as jumping jacks, dancing and swimming can also improve a person’s vestibular system.
Proprioception allows the brain to determine the location of the parts of the body without the need for eyesight. It also involves the improvement of joints and muscles so that the brain can control each muscle or joint with ease. One example of basic proprioception is when a person uses stairs without paying attention to each step. To improve proprioception, teenagers can be introduced to basic weight lifting, wrestling and other activities that require energy and moving specific muscles, such as tug of war and rock climbing.
Motor planning is the part of sensory integration that involves the brain’s ability to plan and execute new and more precise motor skills. Activities such as walking in a straight line, obstacle courses and “follow the leader” can help improve motor planning. Sports such as billiards, golf, darts and soccer also help in this aspect. In billiards, a student needs to hit the cue ball properly so the cue ball hits the desired ball. This requirement allows the brain to be more precise and calculate the exact force needed to make the cue ball travel to the desired location.