Digitakt for sure. Just pack it with variety of different sample banks, and you are good to go.
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Did I miss it maybe? How old are your kids?
Personally, I can’t recommend any 303-clone for any age, because the sequencer is limited and can be a pain to learn.
Unrelated: My buddy’s daughter saw a finger drumming act on television 2 years ago and she was totally into what they were doing. So he bought a MPC Live 2. Well, the MPC was unboxed a year later and there was hardly any interest in learning another computer. She’s like 12yo now and plays real drums and started learning clarinet.
So, just maybe for starters give them a spare synth you won’t miss if it gets broken, and then see how their interest develops.
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Benidub DS71 (even better when used with a delay)
or basically any dub siren.
Also who doesn’t love a mic plugged into a delay?
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an acoustic piano
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This, or
this, or
this, but if you need more brain dead and aren’t so interested in samples, I recommend a controller hooked up to a sound module. Might require some brain work, but usually, controllers are a set-and-forget deal unless they’re designed to work only with a computer.
This one, you can just go with presets by twisting the knob and forgetting about menu diving and they’ll still sound OK. I’ve messed around with Dexed (software version) but this device can be used without it.
I recommend this controller hooked up to those sound modules but it’ll only play one note at a time. Most of the setup will be necessary on the computer but you’ll only need to do it once. I’ll have to recommend a Launchpad, a Launchkey or a Keystep if you need polyphony because other MIDI controllers of this form factor aren’t really designed for it unless they have more buttons or are designed to be used only with a computer (you’d need a USB MIDI host device to connect them to a sound module, and you’ll get cable mess and frustration quickly).
Or a guitar…
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Omnichord or equivalent autoharp substitue (q chord or whatever). Seems simple enough of an interface and probably fun for the kids to strum it. No huge skill barrier. Enough there for adults not to feel like they’re playing a kazoo.
Any strum controlled instrument sounds pretty fun really. Even to me.
Also maybe electric kalimba? I dunno. A little outside the box.
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any synth that has one knob per function and not too much menu diving. I started with a Moog Sub 37 synthesizer and that was easier than most menu divey synths. Having knob for filters, oscillators, LFOs, and VCAs was super helpful to learn synthesis basics without too much stress.
Wait, you buy your kids $2000 FX units and $400 mics?
Will you adopt me, please! 
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I could maybe vouch for that too, but it depends on people’s music tastes and what interface they like. People may want to just tap on buttons instead, and most guitar amps/effects units that are within an average consumer’s budget typically emulate rock guitar sounds.
Hand drum
Jeff Mills didn’t allow anyone to lock him in.
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https://www.gear4music.com/Idiopan.html
Tunable tongue drums
OP-XY fits the bill and is “only” 1.700 € right now 
.
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You can be my new “mom” while @Suspect_Frequency is my new “dad”.
Xmas is coming my loving parents – please make sure my stocking suffers are generous this year!
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Lol 
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TE PO line up could be fun!
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