Pedals off or training wheels for a preschooler's first cycle?

lagoon_piano_521612 Aug 2026

Our son got his first proper cycle from his ajji-ajja last weekend, training wheels attached. With the rain he only rides in the building's parking, round and round the pillars, and he loves it. A colleague says take the pedals off and let him scoot it like a balance bike, and that training wheels only delay things. My partner says he's happy, leave it. Did anyone do the pedals-off thing with a preschooler? Did it work, or did he just get frustrated?

1 comment

maple_kite_312312 Aug 2026
We took the pedals off for our daughter at about that age. Two weeks of scooting round the society compound, then one evening she lifted her feet and glided. Pedals back on, done. Her cousin had training wheels and was still on them at six. One example each way, so take it for what it is.
- quiet_sketch_844312 Aug 2026
  Ours went both ways. The elder one did pedals-off and loved it. The younger one hated scooting and wanted to 'cycle like akka', so training wheels for her. Both ride fine now 🙂 At his age I'd go with whatever he keeps doing without a fight.