Awesome avatar.

I don't know if slapping the ground is the way I would describe a proper fall. I would say use your hands only help you roll. Planting is a definite no-no.

If you live in an urban area, practice your skills by riding on painted lines or on the edge of sidewalks to get used to riding slow and straight. Ride up onto and off of sidewalks smoothly to get used to small obstacles on the trails and use short sets of stairs to build your confidence. There's a wheelchair ramp in front of the building where I work that takes a sharp switchback in the middle. I think my balance has gotten a lot better just negotiating that corner when I ride my bike to work.