I had training wheels. Both my kids had training wheels. It's a way to get started. They don't stay on long. What it enabled my daughter to do was go on a family bike ride before she was able to balance on her own. It built her confidence and helped her get used to everything about cycling. I don't remember my son on them as long. I think once he was riding there was a push to go on family rides even though our daughter wasn't ready. So the training wheels facilitated that. I would not say they were necessary but depending on your family they might come in handy for a little while.