Pediatric Occupational Therapy Screening

May you live every day of your life. – Jonathan Swift

A Guide to Developmental Occupational Skills Milestones

Below are both standard developmental milestones and signs you can look for to determine if your child might need occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy helps with various needs including fine motor, cognitive, physical, and sensory skills. Children develop at different rates, which is why these are general milestones and the overall health and well-being of a child should always be taken into consideration.

Birth to 3 Months

Birth to 3 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Pays attention to faces
  • Begins to follow things with eyes
  • Begins to recognize people at a difference
  • Able to bring hands to mouth
  • Begins to fuss if activity doesn’t change
Screening Signs

  • Does not try to follow objects with eyes
  • Does not bring hands to mouth

If your child is between birth to 3 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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4 to 6 Months

4 to 6 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Looks around at things nearby
  • Brings things to mouth
  • Shows curiosity about things
  • Tries getting things out of reach
  • Begins passing things from one hand to the other
Screening Signs

  • Does not try to reach for things
  • Has difficult getting things to mouth
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 4 to 6 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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7 to 9 Months

7 to 9 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Watches the path of something as it drops
  • Looks for things he/she sees you hide
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Picks up small objects with thumbs and fingers
  • Puts things in mouth
  • Moves things from one hand to another smoothly
Screening Signs

  • Doesn’t play games that involving back-and-forth play
  • Doesn’t move toys from hand to hand
  • Does not look for or follow objects pointed to
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 7 to 9 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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10 to 12 Months

10 to 12 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Explores things in different ways, shaking or banging
  • Finds hidden things easily
  • Looks at the right picture or thing when named
  • Can drop objects into a container with a large opening
  • Uses thumb and index finger to pick up small objects
  • Copies gestures
  • Starts to use things correctly: drinks from cup, brushes hair
  • Follows directions like “pick up the toy”
Screening Signs

  • Does not look for hidden toys in area
  • Does not point to things
  • Does not imitate gestures
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 10 to 12 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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13 to 18 Months

13 to 18 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Knows what ordinary things are like: phone, brush, spoon
  • Points to get the attention of others
  • Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed it
  • Points to one body part
  • Scribbles on his own
  • Can follow one step verbal directions like “sit down”
Screening Signs

  • Doesn’t know what familiar objects are
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 13 to 18 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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19 to 24 Months

19 to 24 Months
Developmental Milestones

  • Can find objects hidden under 2-3 layers
  • Begins to sort shapes and colors
  • Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books
  • Plays simple make-believe games
  • Might use one hand over the other
  • Builds towers of 4 or more blocks
  • Follows two step instructions like “take off your shoes and put them in the closet”
  • Names items in a picture book such as cat, dog, bird
Screening Signs

  • Doesn’t know what to do with familiar objects
  • Does not copy familiar actions
  • Doesn’t follow simple instructions
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 19 to 24 months of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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2 to 3 Years

2 to 3 Years
Developmental Milestones

  • Maneuvers toys with levers, buttons, and other moveable parts
  • Plays with puzzles with 3 to 4 pieces
  • Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, or people
  • Understands what “two” means
  • Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
  • Turns book pages one at a time
  • Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
  • Able to turn door knobs or screw and unscrew lids
Screening Signs

  • Has difficulty playing with simple toys
  • Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 2 to 3 years of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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3 to 4 Years

3 to 4 Years
Developmental Milestones

  • Names some colors and shapes
  • Understands the idea of counting
  • Starts to understand time
  • Remembers parts of a story
  • Understands the idea of “same” and “different”
  • Draws a person with 2 to 4 body parts
  • Uses scissors
  • Starts to copy some capital letters
  • Plays board or card games
  • Tells you what he things is going to happen next in a book
Screening Signs

  • Has trouble scribbling
  • Doesn’t show interest in interactive games
  • Doesn’t understand the idea “same” and “different”
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 3 to 4 years of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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4 to 5 Years

4 to 5 Years
Developmental Milestones

  • Counts 10 or more things
  • Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
  • Can print some letters and numbers
  • Copies a triangle and other geometric shapes
  • Can use the toilet on his/her own
  • Knows about things used everyday, like money and food
Screening Signs

  • Is easily distracted, unable to concentrate on one activity for more than 5 minutes
  • Doesn’t play a variety of games and activities
  • Doesn’t draw pictures
  • Cannot wash and dry hands without help
  • Has lost skills previously obtained

If your child is between 4 to 5 years of age, and you or your pediatrician feel that a screening would be of benefit, please feel free to contact us to schedule a screening, view our free developmental screening page to learn more about our screenings, or call our office at (847) 265-7300.
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