Can someone recommend a good rod & reel combo for an 8 year old? Also, should I stay with the spincasting reels or go with a spinning reel? Thanks

One of the worst things you can do in my opinion is to saddle a child with poor quality fishing equipment.  That being said, there are decent quality spin casting reels available.  There are outstanding quality spinning reels available.  If the child demonstrates any degree of coordination, I'd set up with good spinning gear, something close to a quality level you'd use yourself if the child wasn't along.  I'd choose spin casting gear if coordination was less obvious.

 

Back in the day, I got stuck with one Zebco 202 after another.  After a while, the local hardware store wouldn't replace them for me because I was "too hard" on my gear.  I don't care who you are, a 5 to 15 lb carp will tear up a Zebco 202.  Later on, I got a Johnson spin cast reel ( a centurion I think) just like what most of the geezers had at the local pay lake.  I landed numerous medium sized carp with that reel. 

 

The moral of this story is that decent gear helps a child get better at fishing and cheap gear doesn't.

 

If I was buying gear now for the 8 year old fisherman I was then, I'd get a 6' Med action Berkley Lightning Rod and a 1000 or 2000 sized Shimano reel, probably a Spirex.  Those come with 2 spools.  Fill one with 6 lb for Bluegills & Crappie and the other with 8 or 10 for everything else.

Thanks for the great feedback... That's the problem we had this year was poor quality. I bought him a Shakespeare panfish combo that I thought was decent and had good reviews, but the front plastic cone cover over the head assy would pop off a lot when pressing the button to cast. This year for Christmas I wanna buy him something that's nice and he'll be able to use for several years. Thanks again for the info!!!

I started at 6 with a Garcia Mitchell 300.  I think a spinning reel should be fine at 8 unless the child's coordination is terrible.  Started fishing at 5, but wth a cane pole.

One of the worst things you can do in my opinion is to saddle a child with poor quality fishing equipment.  That being said, there are decent quality spin casting reels available.  There are outstanding quality spinning reels available.  If the child demonstrates any degree of coordination, I'd set up with good spinning gear, something close to a quality level you'd use yourself if the child wasn't along.  I'd choose spin casting gear if coordination was less obvious.

 

Back in the day, I got stuck with one Zebco 202 after another.  After a while, the local hardware store wouldn't replace them for me because I was "too hard" on my gear.  I don't care who you are, a 5 to 15 lb carp will tear up a Zebco 202.  Later on, I got a Johnson spin cast reel ( a centurion I think) just like what most of the geezers had at the local pay lake.  I landed numerous medium sized carp with that reel. 

 

The moral of this story is that decent gear helps a child get better at fishing and cheap gear doesn't.

 

If I was buying gear now for the 8 year old fisherman I was then, I'd get a 6' Med action Berkley Lightning Rod and a 1000 or 2000 sized Shimano reel, probably a Spirex.  Those come with 2 spools.  Fill one with 6 lb for Bluegills & Crappie and the other with 8 or 10 for everything else.

I agree but on one 6lb one with 12 or 14lb test. Other than that 100% agree!

I would find out what the child feels comfortable with first.  I have seen some kids around 10 or so that can handle a baitcaster like a pro, and others that are intimidated by a snoopy rig.