>In US kids start school at 5. It's called kindergarten. The kids learn how to read and write in this grade...
>
>My son was making a good progress in his first grade and now he is reading almost fluently, though he doesn't like to read aloud anymore...

There is kindergarten too in Turkey. But in there children start it at 6 and who want to send their child they send their child. Kid's learn some games, painting and mathematics but not read and write.

We calls that as anaokulu (motherschool).