[believer]

According to my SIL who has taught kindergarten forever ( probably around 25 years at least), the most important thing that children need to learn in kindergarten is social skills. It really is a huge thing for them. I held my son (my middle child) back and put him in pre-k and then kindergarten because he was academically and socially not ready. It was a good idea - he cried a lot and would not have done well. He is in 3rd grade now and doing great in school. I worried about my youngest child because she was so shy, but being in kindergarten really helped her to come out of her shell. My BIL said that last year (when she was in kindergarten) was the first time he had ever heard her speak (and he has known her all her life - she really was very quiet and shy before). She is still shy, but less so and more open to other people. I did have to ask her teacher to help her to stand up for herself a few times, but she really did learn a lot and is much more confident and independant now.