This report reviews the history of kindergartens in America and in the state of Wyoming, and examines current trends and future directions of kindergarten programs. Wyoming's first kindergarten was established in Sundance in 1891-92. The University of Wyoming began offering courses in kindergarten theory by the mid 1940s, and the kindergarten became a regular part of the state's K-12 programs by the mid 1970s. Today's academic focus in many kindergarten curricula, which seems to have begun in the early 1980s and continues as a national trend, creates for kindergarten teachers a conflict between what they believe to be best practice and what they are actually expected to do in the classroom. Kindergarten teachers are beginning to question the use of screening instruments prior to kindergarten entrance, the lowering of school entry age, the implementation of kindergarten teaching strategies more suitable for older children, and the practices of retaining kindergarten children or placing them in extra-year programs. Opportunities for spontaneous play in rich environments are becoming a standard in many kindergartens. Districts across the state are carefully examining present kindergarten practices and developing appropriate practices based on historical and empirical research. An integrated curriculum, making connections with previous learning, multi-age grouping, and alternative assessment are keys in re-designing curriculum for young children. Notes contain 23 references. (AP)