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Visual Development Guidelines

The following questions may be used to determine the child’s visual skill development.

All age guidelines were taken from several different sources and where differences of opinion were found, the average is given. The age notations are meant to be used as guidelines of when the child has demonstrated this skill

Does your child:

• look at your face? (momentary looking by 1 month)
• smile at others? (3 months)
• look at own hands? (3 months)
• watch you as you enter/cross the room? (6 feet away by 3 months)
• reach out and bat at objects? (3 months)
• try to reach out and grasp at objects/toys? (6 months)
• notice something (e.g., a raisin) when it is 12 inches away? (6 months)
• pick up or attempt to pick up a Cheerio, raisin, or lint? (8 months)
• attempt to move toward an object that is at least 5 feet away? (7 months)
• stare at or try to grab your jewelry or glasses? (9 months)
• react to facial expressions of others (e.g., frown, smile)? (10-12 months)
• look for dropped toys? (9 months)
• show an interest in picture books? (12 months)
• reach into a container and pull objects out easily? (12-18 months)
• name one picture of a familiar item (18-22 months)
• find detail in picture book (e.g. eyes, tail) (24 -27)
• match two items that are the same color. (26-42 months)

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“Visual Screening Guidelines: Children Birth through Five Years,” Colorado Department of Education, January 2005
photo: Sight for All: Teaching the World To See