I grew up working on cars with my Dad. When I was 14 yrs old, I spent a whole lot of time in the garage helping restore my Dad's '63 Impala SS. I wanted a project of my own.
In 1986, we found my '65 Nova, and Mom and Dad bought it for me for $375. It would become mine after graduation if I kept my grades up, and I had to get a job to earn money to fund the restoration. It was great motivation... kept me out of trouble, as nearly every dime I had went into that car. I still have it today, almost 30 years later.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...ing#Post634196
I say go for it... it will be a great experience for your kid. I learned everything I know about cars wrenching on '60s Chevys in the 1980s. Dad was a novice too, so a lot of the stuff we learned together (bodywork, engines, transmissions, etc). It may not have always came out perfect (the body on my car, for example), but every project was a great learning experience.
I am proud to say that I've never hired anyone to do anything on my Nova. That same DIY attitude has carried to my daily drivers and probably saved me countless dollars in repair bills over my 27 years of driving.