Youngest has one of these:
She’s had it since 2 and loves it (Nearly 3). Last weekend she had her first big crash on it – racing/rolling down a grass hill and ended up basically going over the bars in a big tank slapper. Scuffs and shock were mighty. Once she’d recovered she said she wanted to go back to the other hill as it wasn’t quite as steep (not much in it).
Bless, I have a future DH rider!
The eldest didn’t have a balance bike (she’s 4) and whilst she enjoys the biking with stabilisers she does moan a bit when we’re out ride playing that she can’t off road as well as her sister…
Not sure there’s much in it in terms of ability though – they both can balance on it fine, and the eldest has a good concept of pedalling and brakes now which is handy.
One thing I did do with stabilisers soon after she started riding was to raise them a few cm’s off the road on both sides, so they stop her falling but do allow a degree of freedom in terms of balance. It’s interesting to see how when she starts riding she’s leaning but by the end of the play session she’s balancing more and more.
Don’t like pedal back brakes though (her bike has one), I’d prefer she had a proper brake and used that, but understand her little hands aren’t (weren’t) strong enough.