It could be said that the optimal human growth environment is an extension of the Aristotelian maxim of "nothing to excess." While it seems like an easy prescription to follow, in reality it is not. The catch is that in order to provide the best range of opportunities to a developing child, the caretakers have to invest a great deal of attention into monitoring both the child and the environment, to make sure that the latter is neither too threatening, nor too barren, in relation to the former. And as we know all too well, if there is one thing parents are not willing to sacrifice for their children's sake, even when they can afford it, it is their own time. Yet it is the focused attention of caring adults that a child needs most if he or she is to develop a positive attitude towards the world.
That snarky comment regarding "as we know all too well . . . " is based on time studies showing how little time teens spend interacting with their parents.
This echoes the new data arising from studies which indicate the degree of influence focused attention on children has, particularly in the first year: Studies Show Talking With Infants Shapes Basis of Ability to Think by Sandra Blakeslee
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