Honestly, skip the super cheap unbranded ones. They dont have palm rejection and will drive your daughter crazy because she cant rest her hand on the screen while drawing. If you really dont want to drop a ton of cash on an Apple Pencil, there are a couple alternatives that are actually decent.

• Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil
• This one is super durable for a kid, uses the same tech as Apple, but lacks pressure sensitivity.
• Adonit Note Stylus
• A solid budget choice that feels okay in the hand but feels a bit more plasticky. Just be careful checking compatibility before buying since some older iPads dont support the newer pens. Honestly, the Apple Pencil is the gold standard for a reason, but for a beginner, the Logitech option is probably the best middle ground.

Before you buy anything, do you know the exact model or year of that iPad? That determines if it even supports active styluses with tilt sensitivity. If it is a newer model, the Metapen A8 Stylus for iPad is a solid budget pick that actually includes palm rejection and magnetic attachment, usually around 20 bucks. It performs well enough for beginners starting out without the premium cost of the official hardware.

Regarding what the previous user said, they are totally right about palm rejection. If you want something solid but cheaper, look into the Zagg Pro Stylus. It is way more affordable and does a decent job for beginners. Just make sure you check the model of the iPad you bought first though, because compatibility can be weird. You dont want to end up with a dead stylus on her birthday.