Actually if i was outfitting a youngster with a .22LR boltgun that could last a lifetime, I'd get the kid a CZ 452 American w/ a 16.1" bbl, along with an extra "CZ Scout" youth stock and a single-shot magazene adapter (or two) that block a 452/453 magazenes rendering them singleshooters when the adapter is installed, but it immediately can be removed making the rifle a repeater again.
Also by installing the CZ Scout stock, its youth-size but without any permanent modifications, the barreled action can be used in the Scout stock when the youngun's small, but later can be put back into the adult walnut 452/453 stock with the kid has grown into it!
I've pretty much done this, except I put a one inch recoil pad on the CZ Scout Stock and used the CZ American Stock on a different rifle, a CZ Trainer which I call my American Trainer. For my Scout stock I had the American barrel cut to 16.5 inches and threaded for a suppressor... I have one and my Boy has one except that his only has a one-half inch recoil pad on it. The CZ Scout Stock does require a permanent modification... The rear tang has to be inletted for the dovetailed bolt that the rear tang screw screws into, and the barrel channel has to be opened up for the larger diameter American Barrel. Over at rimfirecentral's CZ forum there are a few multipage threads of CZ Scouts that have been altered by their owners and they are not Kids, so this is one rifle that probably will not gather dust in the back of the safe.
CZ American Trainer;
The CZ Scout is an Excellent Rifle and yes I would make it a point to pick one up NOW while they are still available as the line is being discontinued; BUT it is still a pretty heavy rifle for a small kid, and I would give a serious look at the Savage Cub if you can find one or the newer version the 'Rascal'. The Cub has a better receiver sight and is grooved for rimfire scope bases while I believe the Rascal is drilled and tapped.
Having had both I can say that the Savage Cub/Rascal's receiver sight is much more robust, has a feed ramp (vs having to put the round directly in the chamber) and the Chipmunk/Crickett's scope mount puts the scope too high for any kind of cheek weld and again is not as robust as the Savage mounting system.
Jerry