With all these moms on Facebook bragging about their kids at school's end

Actually, you learn a lot more than those specific skills. The early years are essential for developing pre-academic habits. For example, colouring helps develop fine motor control which is essential for writing, dressing, and a lot more. (I'll add to this post later, my baby needs me right now.)

So true, ricepudding. You can't build a strong and proper house without a strong foundation.

Exactly. Kindergarten is also a time to learn how to get along with peers, how to focus on a task, following routines, making predictions, expressing emotions in a healthy way, symbolic thinking...pretty much everything in kindergarten is part of lifelong learning.