A lot of kids get them around here for their first guns. My sons had BB guns, but nothing as strong as what they've got out on the market today.
I've seen the variable pressure ones actually be pumped up enough to enter the bark of a pine tree behind paper targets. Stick a nail in the hole, and it will go down an inch into the hole that the pellet made.
If you're going to get those newer ones, you might as well go ahead and give them a .22 for Christmas.