I think an interesting tweak in parenting is the rise of the balance bikes over the tricycle/training wheels. Since the tricky part of riding a bike is the counter-steering (that you steer left to shift the balance right), it makes sense to be practicing that first and then add the pedals. They’ve probably been doing this in Germany for the past twenty years for all I know. But the results are indisputable: Chandra is pedaling at age 3. The Benalish Dad only got on a bike with extreme reluctance at age–ah–eight. After being shamed by his little sister zipping around.