Our June birthday son is in kinder now. We sent him on time and are glad we did. He didn't even know the alphabet when he started and can read several sight words and sound out many more now. He loves it and is thriving. He would have been so bored in preschool for another year. He does not spend a ton of time sitting at a desk, and the class seems very developmentally appropriate for him. He gets two recesses per day, 2 PE classes, one dance class, and one garden class (in the outdoor classroom) per week. Much of the in class time is spent on the rug, moving to stations, learning letters and sounds with movement, and doing activities designed to get their energy out. Most afternoons are free play in the classroom. We were told by a private school to have him wait a year, but his preschool director said he was ready, so we sent him to public. Red shirting here must not be as common as elsewhere. There are several kids younger than he is in his class and nobody a full year older. There are a few July and August red shirts but also July and August on time kids. So, I guess the moral is, know your kid and the school she'll go to. The sports thing is not such a big deal to me. We plan to teach our kids that sports are for exercise, enjoyment, and stress relief, not something to plan your life around. Honestly, I'd prefer not spending all of our weekends at baseball tournaments.