My kids are starting to learn to fly. I fly with my Dad a lot so between us we have a trainer that's kinda the family trainer. It is a scratch built body with a Sig Kadet wing and an old, but very reliable K&B 40 Sportster. This plan has been rebuilt so many times that it is mostly made up of left overs. But it flys great!

So with that, I would recommend that You go with BOTH or two of something. My kids have a standing challenge, we you learn to take-off, fly and land, you can build any plane you want. This means that the engine, radio and other gear can start on the ARF trainer and the kit becomes the second plan. But because the Trainer is shared and not "owned" by either of my kids or nephews a lot of pressure is removed and lets us work on flying and getting ready to fly their built planes.

Here is our ugly little trainer!