While genes set the roadmap, experiences create the neural connection inside the brain that sets the foundations of our emotions, language, motor skills, vision, and memories.

雖然基因預先設定了路線圖，不過生活體驗會促使腦內神經互相連結，為兒童奠定情緒、語言、運動技能、視覺和記憶能力。

If one region gets additional stimulation, the neural pathways within that area and the connections to other areas grow stronger.

當大腦某個區域接收到更多的刺激時，則該區域的神經通路與其它領域的連結會變得越來越強。

This process is called synaptic pruning.

這個過程被稱為突觸修剪。

You can also imagine your brain as a planet.

你可以試著把你的大腦想像成一顆星球。

There is Motor Skill Metropolis, Memory Mountain, and Vision Village.

星球上有著運動技能大都會、記憶山和視覺村。

Through the years, popular cities grow bigger and links between them get larger.

隨著一年年的發展，熱門的城市會變得越來越大，而城市之間的連結也會變得越來越強。

Now, if one area was never developed, there can be traffic jams.

不過，如果城市的發展不一致，其中一塊區域沒有被開發，那城市之間就可能會出現交通堵塞。

This then slows down the development of the entire brain.

進而延緩整個大腦的發展速度。

Some neurotransmitters will be tired getting to work.

一些神經傳導物質疲於應付工作。

Others will take shortcuts and get lost.

其它神經傳導物質則會試著走捷徑，最終迷失。

Betty Hart and Todd Risley studied children's exposure to language.

Betty Hart 和 Todd Risley 曾經展開一項有關兒童語言能力的研究。

On average, children from families on welfare were exposed to about 600 words per hour.

他們發現，來自弱勢家庭的兒童平均每小時接觸約 600 個單字。

Kids from rich families got about 2,000.

而來自富裕家庭的兒童則每小時能接觸約 2000 個單字。

By the age of 3, the gap becomes 30 million words.

到了 3 歲，弱勢家庭和富裕家庭兒童之間的單字量差距累積到了三千萬字。

But it didn't end there.

然而，這兩種家庭背景兒童的差距不只有這樣。

Children from privileged families received much more positive feedback.

來自富裕家庭的兒童，收穫更多的正面反饋。

For every 6 words of praise, there was only 1 word of discouragement.

他們每收穫六句讚美，只有一句是負面的字詞。

Welfare kids, however, had twice as much discouragements as praise.

反觀來自弱勢家庭的兒童，所聽到的負面字詞比讚美還要多上一倍。

This could make a difference that lasts a lifetime.

這可能會造成影響一生的改變。

In a study that began in 1963, psychologist David Weikart and his team randomly divided 123 underprivileged kids into 2 groups.

在 1963 年開始的一項研究中，心理學家 David Weikart 和他的團隊隨機將 123 名貧困兒童分為兩組。

One group spent 2 years at a top preschool with excellent teachers.

其中一組被安排在一個擁有優秀師資的頂尖學前班學習了兩年。

They made art, discussed problems, and received a lot attention, respect, and love.

他們上藝術課、討論問題，並得到了很多關注、尊重和愛。

For the other, life went on as usual, often without much attention from anyone.

而另一組兒童則是在平凡的情況下長大，沒有獲得特別的關懷或安排。

40 years later, the HighScope Perry Preschool Study was published.

40 年後，著名的 High/Scope Perry 學前教育研究報告面世了。

At age 5, 67% of the children in the top preschool group had an IQ of over 90; they were school-ready.

五歲時，頂尖學前教育組中有 67% 的兒童擁有超過 90 的智商，並已做好了上學的準備。

Of the others, only 28% achieved that.

而另一組兒童中，只有 28% 的人達到超過 90 的智商。

At 14, there was a big difference in basic classroom achievements.

十四歲時，兩組兒童在課堂的基本表現上差異甚大。

At 27, the top preschool group were more likely to own their own home.

二十七歲時，接受過頂尖學前教育的實驗對象更有能力買下屬於自己的房子。

And at age 40, they earned more money and were less likely to ever be sentenced to jail.

而在四十歲時，他們賺到了更多的錢，且曾被判刑入獄的人數更少。

The researchers concluded that the 2 years at preschool nourished the children not only intellectually, but also gave them social skills, courage, and perseverance.

研究人員認為，兩年的學前教育不僅在智力上滋養了兒童，也賦予了他們社交技能、勇氣和毅力。

This combination of character strength, also called "grit", was later responsible for their success in life.

這種性格優勢組合被稱為意志力，是造就他們後來在生活中取得成功的原因。

The $15,000 invested in putting those kids into preschool later benefited the entire society, mainly through a reduction in crime.

讓這些兒童接受學前教育而投入的一萬五千美元資金最終為整個社會帶來了正面的影響，主要是這些接受過學前教育的兒童成年後比較少從事犯罪行為。

The total return of investment was estimated to be at a $195,000.

投資的總回報估計為十九萬五千美元。

In 2006, Nobel Prize winning economist James Heckman published what became known as the "Heckman Curve".

2006 年，曾獲諾貝爾獎的經濟學家 James Heckman 發表了後來被稱為「赫克曼曲線」的論文。

It shows the return of investments in education, which is the highest in the early years.

該論文說明了投資教育所能獲得的回報，並進一步指出越早投資教育，報酬率就越高。

Governments have since started to act.

各國政府隨即採取行動。

In Germany, parents get a lot of financial support to raise their kids.

在德國，政府為父母提供大量財務支援來幫助他們撫養兒童。

In Japan, mothers or fathers can take a full year of paid leave.

在日本，母親或父親可以申請一整年的有薪假。

In France, all children go to kindergarten free of charge.

在法國，所有兒童都可以免費上幼兒園。

If you happen to be in charge, know that with every extra minute you spend encouraging and talking to that little troublemaker, you might be doing him a favor for life.

如果你正好是負責帶小孩的人，你每多花一分鐘鼓勵並與你們家小搗蛋鬼對話，對他的未來就有多一分幫助。

According to the University of Michigan, "Regular family dinners are a stronger predictor of good grades than doing homework."

密西根大學表示：「定期的家庭聚餐比做家庭作業更有助於培育優秀人才。」