The best way to increase your tech points is to keep your villagers working at the research table. They will produce significantly more research points as they get more skilled and become masters. Increasing your population too soon can create a problem with food, and then you won't have anyone left to do research. The kids eat as much as the adults.

it's hard to say... the golden child comes along when they are ready!!

It took me 4 days I had fun bossing my villagers around and making them fish for me while I waited though.