Which is best for skinned knees/elbows, alcohol or peroxide?

The best course of action is to simply wash the affected area with warm soapy water, and apply a band-aid to prevent dirt and bacteria from coming into contact with the abrasion. Alcohol although a good sanitizer is only effective momentarily and will usually cause more discomfort to an already painful injury. Hydrogen Peroxide should be used if debris is visible after washing to insure against infection.

I always preferred peroxinde over alcohol as a child.  Alcohol burned but peroxide did not.  Both clean the wound.  Plus I thought the bubbles were neat; it showed me that it was working.

I think peroxide is better because it doesn't burn as bad. If you blow gently on the peroxide after you put it on it almost doesn't burn at all.

I would go with peroxide. It does the job just as well without the sting. Kids are traumatized enough just to have a scrape or cut. Then to add more pain on top of it just seems cruel. I clearly remember as a child being more frightened by the alcohol than the injury itself.