I've only just seen this, how old is your nipper? if he is really young then I would have seconded the Ukulele idea, great fun they are and easy to learn.

I also would have seconded the advice of getting an acoustic before an electric, electric guitars can mask a lot of errors.

I hope he sticks with it anyway man, make sure he doesn't just try and jump into Hendrix and shit like that, make sure he learns his chords and he can strum a few songs before moving onto the riffs.