Vision Development

ual D e v e l o p m e nt al S e q ue nc e C he c k l i s t f o r “T y p i c al l y D e v e l o p i ng ” C hi l d re n
D e ve lopme nta l Age
Visua l Skills
Birth
-
1 month

Stares at lights, windows & bright walls

Blinks when light is too bright

Pupils get smaller
with lights on & larger when lights dim, equal in size

Looks at object horizontally

1 to 3 months

Fixates on object within field of vision from 5” to as close as 3”

Eye contact increases

Smiles when looking into face of a person who is talking or smiling

Interest on high contrast patt
erns

Visually inspects hands and nearby surroundings

Shows visual preference for people or objects

Will turn to an object brought in from the side

Can tilt head to look at objects above and below
3 to 5 months

Beginning to look at objects in hands.

Most objects within reach are looked at and reached for

Visually attends to objects at distances from 5”
–
20”

Follows or tracks an object vertically or a fast moving object

Move
s head or eyes to sound

Looks for toys that go out of sight

Fixates on objects at 3 feet

Looks at small objects and details

Accurately reaches for objects
5 to 7 months

Binocular eye movements are wel
l developed report deviations

Prefers to look at more complex and real pictures

Looks in a mirror and may smile, pat, or kiss image

Visually discriminates strangers

Responds to a variety of facial expressions

Laughs
at peek
-
a
-
boo games
7 to 12 months

Tracks objects with eyes rather than just head

Fixates on facial expression and imitates

Reaches for small objects such as pieces of cereal

Recognizes some pictures
12 to 18 months

Identifies likenesses and differences

Makes linear marks on paper

Looks toward indicated objects when requested

Looks at picture books and turns pages
18 months to 3 years

Looks behind the mirror when looking at
own reflection

Differentiates, discriminates and identifies familiar objects

Imitates simple actions

Imitates vertical, horizontal, and circular marks on a paper

Matches pictures to objects and pictures to pictures

Matches colors, circle, square, and triangle

Identifies body parts on dolls or picture
"Visual Developmental Sequence Checklist" IL Early Intervention Proced
ure Manual for Children w/ VI.
-
modified by K Appleby