I think the training wheel analogy works so well in so many situations,
everything from gravity to dating. One of the best things I heard when our kids were small was a phycologist on the radio during an interview asking if you could imagine a kid who had never been allowed to date and learn relationship skills, having to learn those for the first time as a 30 year old in a 30 year old's world.
I applied this shocking image that popped into my head, to everything in my kids lives, with the belief that they should gain experience in everything as early as possible in an environment where the mistakes are small and lower risk. My new fear being that if I didn't prepare them they WOULD get hurt or killed and it would be my fault for not helping them learn how to make decisions.
P.S.
(I'm thinking of other experiences aside from relationships but before anyone goes all pedophile on me, let me state that I think kids should start learning relationship skills at play school with other children, not with 30 year olds, and they toys they share should be from Tonka)
BTW, as a result, my son was riding a bicycle WITHOUT training wheels AT AGE 3 and keeping up with the bigger kids. (I'll share my secret if anyone is interested).