I learned to ride without them by coasting down a hill and crashing into the Privet hedge

Both of my children learned to ride without them, I took the pedals, chain and crank off the smallest bike we had and used it as a push bike, my daughter caught on quickly, my son had to graduate to a larger push bike, but eventually got the hang of it. They are both in their late 20's now and still ride.

The Dutch and Danes use the push bikes, I have seen children as young as 3 riding a regular bike unsupervised, they learn quick!

Aaron