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I started my son on a S&W .22 revolver when he was 9 years old. Quickly he got bored with it and wanted to shoot a semi auto like dad. I took him to a gun show so he could pick his own pistol. He handled multiple guns and settled on the Walther P22 with the 5" barrel. It was the one that fit his hands the best and that he liked the best (read coolest). I have a .357 ruger blackhawk that came with a 9mm cylinder. He started with the 9mm, then 38 special and finally 357. Through this progression he learned to handle greater recoil. He is now 11 and likes to shoot my glock 22(.40), when the recoil tires him out he switches back to the P22. We have had no malfunctions after putting over 2000 rounds through it. It is also my 15 year old daughters gun favorite gun to shoot.
Some points from my experience with my kids:
Prior training on gun safe handling prior to the first trip to the range is critical
Kids quickly want to shoot what Dad/the grownups shoots. Work them up to it.
Picking out their own gun helps them take ownership and be more responsible when it comes time to maintainenance. It also helps to make sure it is a good fit for the child.
If you buy one child a gun, your other children will want one too. My daughter was not interested in shooting until I bought her younger brother a pistol.
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