Final answer:
Watching Sesame Street enhances early literacy and numeracy skills in children. Educational television content can positively influence cognitive development, contrasting with the adverse effects of excessive television viewing on scholastic performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question concerns the impact of watching the television show Sesame Street on children's development. The correct answer to the question is that there is research evidence supporting the idea that watching Sesame Street enhances early literacy and numeracy skills. This aligns with research showing that targeted educational content can positively influence children's learning and development. For example, the study by Schechter & Byeb (2007) found that mixed-income preschools had a positive impact on low-income children's language growth, highlighting that certain environments and content can improve cognitive development.
Regarding the general effects of media consumption on children, there has been extensive research. Studies have indicated that excessive television watching can lead to poorer exam performance and that children who watch more television might perform more poorly in school. However, content plays a critical role, and educational shows like Sesame Street are specifically designed to foster learning and cognitive growth in young children.