I love my M44 but it is too heavy for a kid. I would go with a Henry Youth or a Davy Crickett.
My first .22 was a Remington Nylon 66. It was a very nice rifle, but I traded it in on a Springfield Armory M1922M2 .22 Target Rifle. That Springfield drives tacks. I still have it. It’s about the same size and weight as a M1903 .30 Springfield.