Kuala Lampur, Dec. 23 -- If you're pushing your child to become an expert (badminton, chess, studies etc.) before he or she is even able to vote, you may want to think again?

A massive new study (by Arne Gullich et al, see Biblio) dug into the lives of over 34,000 elite performers (Nobel Laureates, renowned classical music composers, Olympic champs, etc), and the findings suggest that early specialisation could be a trap as the road to greatness is long and varied.

The true world-beaters climb slowly, steadily. And crucially, they spend their early years dabbling widely, dipping into multiple sports, subjects, instruments - building what you might call a rich "learning capital" that compounds beautifully over decades.

David Epstein cal...