If he asked I'd take them off. My second son asked to have them removed at 6, he was riding very well without the TW by afternoon. And this isn't the son I'd peg for sticking to something and learning so fast, so don't predict the results! My eldest son also learned around 6, but it took him a LOOONG time - mainly due to confidence issues. I did try the no-pedals with him, and it helped. Anyway, after whining most of the summer he one day hopped on his bike and rode flawlessly to the neighbor's house. (Basically I would have predicted my eldest to learn fast and my middle to whine, when the reverse was true.) My youngest son just turned 5, and wants to learn this summer. We'll give it a try as soon as the rain lets up, starting with removing the pedals and making a run bike.