I have the Lady-Bird book of How to use a Camera - written for 7-11 year olds back in the 1960's, they expected children with a bit of interest in the subject to be able to work a 120 roll film 'folder', or a 35mm range finder, with no exposure meter, let alone 'coupled' automatic exposure metering setting the aperture & shutter speeds for them! They were expected to be able to load film, figure out focus and make their own assessment of lighting to set the aperture & shutter, or use flash if needs be....
I know the modern education system has dumbed down a lot, and got all rather namby pamby about Health & Safety and they wont let kids do stuff for themselves, let alone anything anything mildly hazardous, like making a lemon-cell battery! And children's expectations assume everything will be brand new and the latest fashion, rather than a hand-me down or from the 2d hand shop.... BUT....
Short answer... ASK HER!
Modern auto-focus, auto everything DSLR is so point and press consumer friendly, she ent going to struggle to take photo's with one; if that makes her feel like she has got a 'proper camera', and will use it. And it's a camera she can 'grow into'.... But keeping it in budget, It would have to be 2nd Hand...
