Which of the following best illustrates a child demonstrating social referencing?

The scenario where a child looks at their parent's facial expression before responding best illustrates social referencing. Social referencing involves a child observing the emotional reactions of a caregiver or parent to gauge how to respond in uncertain situations. This behavior indicates that the child is seeking guidance or reassurance from their parent's nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions or tone of voice, to inform their own behavior and emotional response. It is a critical developmental milestone, showing that the child can interpret social signals and use them to navigate their environment effectively.

The other scenarios do not exemplify social referencing in the same way. Imitating another child's actions demonstrates learning through observation but does not involve seeking guidance from an adult's emotional reaction. Expressing one's emotions verbally indicates self-expression rather than looking to others for emotional cues. Playing alone without acknowledging others suggests a lack of engagement in social interactions, which is opposed to the essence of social referencing, where a child actively seeks to connect with and understand others' emotions.