What is the consequence of a child watching excessive television according to best practices for development?

A child watching excessive television can have negative effects on their development, particularly through the lens of parental interaction. When a child spends a substantial amount of time in front of a screen, it often leads to decreased opportunities for meaningful interactions with parents or caregivers. This reduction in interaction can hinder the development of important communication skills, emotional bonding, and the ability to navigate social situations.

Parental interaction is crucial for fostering a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Through these interactions, children learn how to express their emotions, understand social cues, and develop language skills. When television viewing dominates a child's time, especially without co-viewing or discussions with parents, it can impede these learning opportunities.

Other options do not align with established understanding. For instance, excessive television is not known to enhance educational outcomes or promote physical play, and while some shows can introduce social concepts, they do not effectively encourage real-life social skills compared to direct interaction.