I have an 8yr old and he's been throwing a conventional for about a year now. His surf rod is a 10 diawa sealine, with a 6500cs reel. I use the sealine because it is light weight. In the field he can cast 55yds with 3oz. I have seen him hit better distances while actually fishing. If you think hes ready, then let him try, be ready to respool often and pick out a lot of backlashes. This past trip to the obx, he was throwing my saltist 20h on a ballistic rod. While he really struggled with the 13'3" rod, he still could get it out there pretty good.