Describing Objects Station Summary
Use bean bags and picture cards to talk about objects with babies. Let them explore and show what they find. If appropriate, let them share what they see and what they know about the objects.
Cognitive Benefits
Infants learn labels for people and things at a very early age. Labeling helps them recognize people and objects individually and helps them decide how detailed their understanding of the object or face needs to be (Scott, 2014).
When children hear adults use labels for objects or actions, they have an opportunity to learn about how words are used and may be more likely to use the same words when trying to communicate with others (Gardner-Neblett & Cranley, 2013).
When an adult labels or comments on an object upon which a child is focused, the child is more likely to develop a larger vocabulary (Gardner-Neblett & Cranley, 2013).
When an adult and child are engaged in joint attention, or focused together on one object, and the adult says the name of the object, children are more likely to learn the word for that object (Gardner-Neblett & Cranley, 2013).
Social and Emotional
Loving relationships give young children a sense of comfort, safety, confidence, and encouragement (Zero to Three, 2020).
Strong, positive relationships also help children develop trust, empathy, compassion, and a sense of right and wrong (Zero to Three, 2020).
At Home Strategies
Use descriptors to help children learn the names of different colors, shapes and sizes (e.g., “The blue car is bigger and faster than the yellow car.”) (Gardner-Neblett & Cranley, 2013).
Point to or gaze at an object while saying the name (Gardner-Neblett & Cranley, 2013).
Say the names of familiar and new objects or activities (Gardner-Neblett & Cranley, 2013).
References
Gardner-Neblett, N., & Cranley Gallagher, K. (2013). More Than Baby Talk. Retrieved June 11, 2020, from https://mtbt.fpg.unc.edu/sites/mtbt.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/BabyTalk_WEB.pdf 
Scott, L. (2014, December 15). Naming People and Objects in Baby's First Year May Offer Learning Benefits Years Later. Retrieved June 11, 2020, from https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/naming-people-and-objects-baby’s-first#:~:text=“Infants learn labels for people, or face needs to be.” 
Zero to Three. (2020). Birth to 12 Months: Social-Emotional Development. Retrieved June 11, 2020, from https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/238-birth-to-12-months-social-emotional-development

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