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+1 for shotsaway
Balance bike worked brilliantly for my son - my daughter is now learning the the same way. Will it work for your kids? Who knows!
If it doesn't though - just get a bike with stabilisers.
People learn things in different ways - well apart from the 'one true way - in my day we didn't do it like that so it can't possibly work' zealots on STW of course... 😆
I personally let my kids ride what they want at their own pace not mine,or other childrens. If they like stabilisers then that's fine. And they can stay on them until they're ready for the next stage.
I'd mostly say the same. My oldest got stabilisers for his first pedal bike even though he was a whizz on the balance bike, as that was what he wanted and wouldn't have ridden it otherwise. Still riding without at 3 and a half, I don't think that phase did any harm (apart from the aforementioned falling off because he was trying to corner too fast for them and tipping). Admittedly I have done quite a bit of encouragement of my youngest to use the balance bike, but then he needs a bit of encouragement at most things, and now he's got going on it he's loving it.
The thing is, for kids the right age who aren't quite up to pedal bikes, balance bikes are great fun - having been a whizz on the scooter (which is the main reason he was so reluctant to try the bike I think), he's now found the bike can go places the scooter couldn't.
Don't really care what other kids are doing, or whether mine are the youngest at school riding bikes. I am keen for mine to have as much fun on bikes as early as possible though - the bonus being that I get to have fun playing on bikes (or mostly unis right now) too!
Oh yes, and I have been asked about how I got them riding so young - oldest one's best friend isn't riding yet, and keen to so they can ride together. Several other balance bikes on the school run though.