Human Capital

I do not claim to be an expert on child development, but there is considerable evidence that a child's mental disposition is set by the age of five.

Professor James Heckman has pointed out that society's most precious resource is its people and that economic development starts at birth. His research convinced him that intelligence and social skills are developed at an early age and that both are essential for success. An early investment in child development--in the nurturing, learning experiences, and physical health of children from the ages of zero to five--produces the greatest returns in human capital.

It should be obvious that sitting a child in front of a television is not a substitute for parental interaction and exploration. Television will stunt a child's early development. The result will be that society and the individual will have to expend greater energy later in life to undo the damage done.