I let my Granddaughters start on the machine around the age of 7-8. The oldest one (17) just exhibited her first quilt at our County Fair this weekend and she got Grand Champion. She took textiles in high school 2 years and this past year they made a quilt. She was the only one in the class that knew how to use a sewing machine. I feel good that I instilled the basics of sewing and she took off from their. The other Granddaughter just turned 9 and last year for Christmas she made her Mom a couple of hot pads. I feel that is a good project to start on for them.