my granddaughters each received a BROTHER ($89 from wally world) when they decided it was time to have their own...they work wonderfully are good beginner machines and
THE FEATURE I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR A CHILD'S MACHINE....SPEED CONTROL!!!if the machine has a way to slow it down/speed it up it is a good thing. the kids have much better success when you can turn the speed down for them so it doesn't matter how hard they push on the foot pedal.
my youngest gd started quilting at 4 on her own machine...now that she is 9 she has moved her speed up to about 1/2 way...