Having seen a lot of kids come and go through our kinder who haven't done 3 y.o. kinder and have had to do 4 y.o. twice I would say its pretty important. It kinda puts your child at a disadvantage if everyone else has had a year of learning social interaction in large groups, how to say no, how to sit and do activities and yours hasn't. These are the things they need for starting school not academics. These socialisation skills and group skills are what can make or break a schools decision regarding keeping a child back. So IMO it is important. I know 4 children who came through our kinder who hadn't done 3 y.o. and they all had to either repeat 4 y.o. or go back and do 3 y.o. (which is easier as they get two years with the same kids).

Just my opinion though, but I do know of teachers who feel the same way. It would be different I think if it were half that did it half that didn't but as the majority do it the advantage is theirs.

*hugs*
Cailin