Kindergarten is a significant year in a child’s development.  It is the introduction to many academic and social skills.  Kindergarten prepares the student for their academic future.  In recent years, skills that were once taught in first grade are now introduced in kindergarten, so the grade has become more focused and goal-oriented that it was in the past.  The development of social skills is an important aspect of kindergarten as they prepare the students to learn more effectively.