Occasionally someone asks if I will offer a packraft designed for children, and the short answer is “no,” the reason being that it’s just not necessary.
My friend’s ten-year-old son loves paddling the 120 cm/47″ (smallest) Skeena model, which is also the size that works best for me, a grown man.
For most children, the smallest size packraft will probably work best, unless you expect them to grow quite tall in the next few years.
For kids, I think the Skeena is a better choice than the Telkwa, even for whitewater, because it is lighter and packs smaller, so it’s easier for them to carry.
Note that packrafts actually perform better (track straighter) with some weight in the bow, so you won’t be doing your child any favors if you carry all their camping gear in your own boat. If you place their gear in the forward cockpit area, in front of their feet (instead of tied on top of the bow), that will keep the center of gravity low and the boat will feel more stable in choppy conditions. Packrafts, being relatively wide, are quite stable already, but with a very light paddler, adding weight high on the bow can make the boat feel tippy when the waves get big and steep. Shorter people also benefit from improved forward visibility and less wind resistance when their gear is stored lower in the boat.
The best way to store gear low in a packraft is to add an airtight zipper so gear can be placed inside the tubes, but airtight zippers require careful use to avoid leaks (caused by sand and grit getting caught in the seal, or from being folded sharply, which can damage the seal), so in general I don’t recommend adding an airtight zipper to a child’s packraft unless they are unusually conscientious. You can always add a zipper to the packraft at a later date if you decide they need one.
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