A new study finds interaction with teachers plays a crucial role in pre-kindergarteners development of language and math skills -- especially for children from low-income families.
U.S. researchers looked at more than 2,700 children in pre-k programs in 11 states. They found children who focused on free choice play spent little time on academic activities and made smaller gains in language and math.
The findings in the journal Child Development suggests free play activities may not be the best for children's early development.
