I have a "cheap" digital camera, one of the Polaroid ones. What I've learned is this: Get one with Zoom, get one that you can easily offload the pics, be prepared to spend about $200 for one.
My camera will hold 15 pics, but then you have to offload them either to a laptop or a desktop computer. It doesn't use interchangeable memory sticks. Also about the only thing my camera really takes good pics of is close ups. Scenery shots just don't hack it, my 35mm does a much better job. That's why I said get a zoom.
If your son isn't going to have access to a computer you are better off getting a camera that stores the pics on floppy disks.
Just my 3 cents worth.