Thanks all. OP here

I've decided against it for now.

My son got one two years ago and used it 5-6 times and it’s sitting in a box somewhere.

My 9 year old was just gifted the 3doodler pen (I researched which one would be best for that age) and was thrilled and it worked great, was easy to figure out and get started quickly.

My son got one a couple years ago. He was underwhelmed. It seemed super cool, but he wasn’t terribly inspired by it. He does 3D modeling and printing these days in his STEM club; with the awesome teacher, software, and supplies he’s super engaged. Depends on your kid I guess and what they want to do.

You might want to see if there is a book or some youtube videos on technique. It's not quite so easy to make stuff with the pens as they want you to think. But it's a really neat concept, so if you have a kid who is already artsy and loves new media, then they will probably like a 3D pen.

Anyone bought a 3D pen for their kid? Looking for suggestions on type/brand to buy for a beginner and whether they are as cool as they seem. Are they easy to use? I've got a kid who loves to create but often struggles with how to start. Do they come with ideas on getting started? She's in 5th.

Thoughts are welcome.