Vision milestones for children

Vision milestones for children

A guide for parents

Children's vision plays a crucial role in their overall development, impacting everything from learning to social interactions. Recognizing these milestones can help ensure that any potential vision issues are identified early, allowing for timely intervention and support. In this blog, we explore the vision milestones for children from birth to school age, providing insights into what to expect and when to seek professional advice.

Vision milestones from birth to 6 months

The first six months of life are a period of rapid visual development. During this time, your baby’s eyes are learning to work together, and their brain is starting to process visual information.

• Newborn (0-2 months)
  At birth, babies can see objects that are about 8-12 inches away, which is roughly the distance between their face and yours during feeding. Their vision is blurry, and they may seem to stare off into space. By the end of the first month, they may start to focus on faces and track moving objects with their eyes.
  

• 2-4 months
  During this stage, babies begin to develop better control over their eye movements. They start to track moving objects more smoothly and may begin to reach for objects that they can see. Colour vision also starts to improve, allowing them to distinguish between different shades.
  

• 4-6 months
  Depth perception and hand-eye coordination begin to develop. Babies may start to reach for objects with more accuracy, and they can now see further away. This is also when their eyes should be working together more consistently.

Vision Milestones from 6 to 12 Months

Between 6 and 12 months, babies' vision continues to sharpen, and their interaction with the world becomes more sophisticated.

• 6-8 months
  Around this age, babies can see more clearly at both near and far distances. They may start to crawl, which helps develop their depth perception and understanding of spatial relationships. Their ability to judge distances improves, making it easier to reach and grab objects.

• 9-12 months
  By the time babies approach their first birthday, their vision is nearly as sharp as an adult's. They can recognize familiar people and objects across a room, and their colour vision is fully developed. They also start to notice smaller detail and are better at tracking fast-moving objects.

Vision Milestones from 1 to 2 Years

As toddlers, children’s vision becomes even more integral to their exploration and learning.

• 12-18 months
  During this period, children’s hand-eye coordination continues to improve. They become more skilled at activities like stacking blocks, scribbling with crayons, and fitting shapes into corresponding holes. Their depth perception allows them to navigate their environment more confidently.
  

• 18-24 months
  By this age, children begin to use their vision to guide more complex tasks, such as climbing stairs, running, and kicking a ball. Their visual memory improves, helping them recognize and recall familiar objects, people, and places.

Vision Milestones from 2 to 5 Years

The preschool years are a critical time for developing the visual skills necessary for school readiness.

• 2-3 years
  As children’s motor skills develop, their vision supports more intricate tasks like cutting with scissors, drawing shapes, and assembling puzzles. They can also begin to distinguish between different letters and numbers, setting the stage for learning to read.
  

• 3-4 years
  At this stage, children should be able to focus on objects both near and far with ease. They become more adept at activities that require precise vision, such as tracing letters, copying shapes, and identifying colours. Their visual attention span also increases, allowing them to focus on tasks for longer periods.
  

• 4-5 years
  As children approach school age, their vision should be fully developed. They can now recognize letters, numbers, and simple words, and their hand-eye coordination supports tasks like drawing, writing, and playing sports. Their ability to judge distances and navigate their environment continues to improve.

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

While most children develop their vision without any issues, some may experience vision problems that can affect their development. It’s important to be aware of the signs that may indicate a vision issue, such as:

• Crossed or misaligned eyes
  If your child’s eyes do not appear to work together or are consistently turned inward or outward, it could be a sign of strabismus.
  

• Frequent squinting or rubbing of the eyes
  This may indicate that your child is having difficulty focusing or seeing clearly.
  

• Tilting the head or covering one eye
  If your child frequently tilts their head or covers one eye, it may be a sign of an eye muscle imbalance or vision issue in one eye.
  

• Difficulty with eye-hand coordination
  Struggling with activities like catching a ball, colouring within the lines, or assembling puzzles may suggest a vision problem.
  

• Avoiding close-up tasks: If your child avoids reading, drawing, or other close-up tasks, it could be due to difficulty focusing on nearby objects.

When to Schedule an Eye Exam

The NHS recommends vision screening from four years old. You certainly don’t have to wait until your child can read before organising their first test. 

And if you notice any signs of vision problems or if your child has a family history of eye conditions, we recommend consulting with an eye care professional at an earlier stage. Prompt detection and treatment of vision issues can prevent more significant problems down the road.

How Maculara can help

We can help you stay informed about your child’s vision milestones and arrange an appropriate schedule of regular eye exams, allowing you to help support your child's vision health and overall wellbeing. Contact us today to start your child’s eyecare journey.