Enjoy the first years of teaching your child to ride: safer, earlier longer. Balance Bikes teach children how to ride a bicycle at an earlier age because they learn to balance and counter-steer first and then pedal later. Training wheels slow the learning process because kids become too dependent on them, acquiring bad habits. Training wheels that prevent the bike from leaning also prevent counter-steering. With balance bikes children use their feet to propel them and may provide a safer learning experience compared to training wheels and tricycles. Keep your children safe and help them learn good bicycling habits with their first bike. Each bike features a 12″ heavy-duty metal frame equipped with rear tire handbrake, inflatable rubber tires and steel wheels.