He'd also have done better to just hand off the reins to other directors. Setting aside that starting the prequels with Child Anakin was a mistake, few things will make you appreciate how well Steven Spielberg works with child actors like watching what Lucas did with poor Jake Lloyd.
And I realize Spielberg and Lucas talked about Spielberg directing a Star Wars and it just never worked out; but if you just have to start the story with Young Anakin, someone like Spielberg (and there may not be anyone else like him) is worth waiting for.
And poor Hayden became a hermit. This is why "Kenobi" could have been all chases through the woods and I would still love it for bringing him back and showing folks what he was capable of.