Guitar, Amp, Instrument Cable, Headphones, Auto-Tuner, Metronome, Capo, Picks, Strings, Stand, Strap, Bag, String Winder, Polish & Cloth
Don't make them spend more than ~$200 on this. Consider pitching on for some of the accessories at least (though be aware that some of them are quite necessary right off the bat, such as a tuner).
You won't be able to appreciate the difference between a $100 guitar and a $5000 guitar by sound for at least a year and just to get started you need a bunch of supplies (see list above) and the cost adds up quick.
The guitar won't break unless you abuse it. Squier instruments are decent. In fact, you could even get something like a First Act at Walmart for under $100 and still not be able to appreciate the difference for quite a while.
I recently did a rabbit-hole dive around the Starcaster name. Fender has used the same name for:
The semi-hollow electric guitar and bass that most are familiar with.
Another bass...not just the semi-hollow version you're thinking of, no no: a P bass.
AND a Jazz bass.
And a strat style electric guitar around 2006-2007, sold through retailers like Best Buy, Costco...this metallic black/pearloid/rosewood version was sold through Sam's Club.
...but here's where it gets funky. Also...
I gutted the electronics, replacing the pickups with Carvin S60 single coils, a Switchcraft jack, new pots, and chrome knobs. Also Carvin non-locking tuners (the ones they used on their "Classic Bolt" model). I never got the electronics working after several tries, so I never even bothered to take the plastic off the new custom-made pickguard (custom, because standard Strat pickguard didn't fit this Starcaster). The pickguard that came with it was this weird off-white, but kinda green (not in a cool vintage way) pearloid. I called it "wrong white". This one was from Pickguardian, and SO much nicer (thicker stiffer, more pearlescent...).