Recognition of television images as a developmental milestone in young children: observational study.

OBJECTIVES To determine the age at which children with apparently normal development can recognise the television image of a cat, dog, or baby. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING District general hospital in north London. SUBJECTS 797 children with apparently normal development aged between 8 and 23 months and 26 children with Down's syndrome aged 18 months. OUTCOME MEASURES Whether or not the child recognised the television image of a cat, dog, or baby by naming, imitating, or pointing at the image. RESULTS By 18 months of age 96% (95% confidence interval 94% to 98%) of normal children recognised the television image of a cat, dog, or baby compared with 5 of 26 (19%) children with Down's syndrome. CONCLUSION Recognition of the television image of a cat, dog, or baby is a simple milestone, which may help in the developmental assessment of young children.