What constitutes child neglect?

The definition of child neglect primarily revolves around the deprivation of essential needs that a child requires for healthy development and safety. When a caregiver fails to provide necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, it directly impacts the child's well-being and daily functioning. These basic needs are critical for a child's physical, emotional, and psychological growth. Without them, a child's health may suffer, leading to long-term consequences.

In contrast, while allowing a child to participate in dangerous activities may suggest poor judgment by a caregiver, it does not inherently constitute neglect as it could be situation-dependent and might involve a level of supervision or understanding of risks that doesn't meet the threshold of neglect.

Supervising a child too closely does not align with conventional definitions of neglect and could be seen rather as an overprotective approach, which is generally not deemed harmful by legal standards.

Lastly, inadequate educational opportunities might raise concerns about a child's developmental prospects, but it typically falls under different laws or regulations related to educational rights rather than neglect itself. Thus, the most direct and legally recognized definition of child neglect focuses on the denial of essential needs, making the identified answer the correct one.