I started my DGD with one of those toy ones. It was a piece of junk. Didn't sew well and was a pain. When Hancock Fabrics ran their Janome Sew Mini on sale for $39 I got her one. She loves it and it sews great. It's a real sewing machine , bobbin and all. She loves it. She started out sewing on my dinning room table, but I moved her to her little table and it's much easier for her to sew. By the way she was 6 when I got it so it is kid friendly.