i really believe in the inexpensive Brother machines you can pick up for under $100 (i bought 3 at $79 each)they are great basic machines- hold up to kids using them- and can easily handle the basics.
we used to have a little sewing school- in the school we had 5 Brother machines- a White, a Singer and my Viking- I really thought most students would really want to be using my viking- not true---we had the most inexpensive Brother machines wind up being the favorites! and at times certain students would stand around and wait for one over sitting down in front of one of the others-
the White was the one no one wanted to use- including the person it belonged to....
all 3 of my granddaughters (ages 16, 14 & 10) all have brother machines- they have all 3 been using them for 6 years now. good little work horses
(the youngest was 4 when she made her first quilt on a little kids singer- about 1/2 way through that first quilt she had already moved from her little (just her size singer) to one of the brother's which was much easier for her to operate.